The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today marked the 60th anniversary of the 1965 Selma march by calling for the protection of civil rights for all Americans.
Sixty years ago, a group of Black and allied civil rights activists crossed the Edmund Pettus bridge in Selma, Alabama as part of a march against voter suppression and the murder of activist Jimmy Lee Jackson. The group was brutally attacked by Alabama state troopers, sheriff’s deputies and vigilantes, sparking a nationwide backlash.
SEE: Selma bridge crossing anniversary: Full list of this month’s events
In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
“Today we honor the bravery and dedication of the Selma protesters in opposing racism and injustice. Facing brutal repression, they stood up for civil rights and helped change the course of history. As we remember them, we urge the government to protect the civil rights of every American and uphold the rights guaranteed to them by our constitution.”
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com