Hello Parents & Students of Most Blessed Sacrament Youth Ministry,
In 1965, Selma became the epicenter of the Civil Rights struggle for equality, led by the SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference), and it's notable leaders such as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Ralph David Abernathy, Andrew Young, Hosea Williams, to name a few. As a result of southern obstructionism towards minority voting, many protests and demonstrations were organized in order to bring attention to this Civil Rights matter with Selma becoming the pinnacle of this conflict. "Selma" reached it's own pinnacle with an organized march from Selma to Montgomery that resulted in a conflict of epic proportions on the Edmund Pettis Bridge where Alabama State Troopers attacked marchers with whips, nightsticks and tear gas. The entire incident was captured on television, and it was this moment that finally moved the needle in Washington that would lead to the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 guaranteed the right to vote (first awarded by the 15th Amendment) to all African- Americans.
Our students enjoyed this outing and the movie immensely as many of them shared their personal testimony afterwards while grappling with the magnitude of the movie. We are also planning a discussion group between our Youth, Parents, and Church leadership in order to initiate inter-generational dialogue on the matter of Faith, Social Justice, and the role that the Church will have in the 21st Century.
In closing, I would like to specifically thank Fr. Bruce, Deacon Fred Toca, and Rick Toca for sponsoring this trip for our Youth. I believe that this outing and the movie "Selma" provided a tremendous learning opportunity for our Youth, and a glimpse into a very important event in not only Black History, but in American History.
Thank You,
Lyndon batiste
Youth Ministry
Most Blessed Sacrament Church
