What Selma News Today

The department of justice is it negotiating with the town to try to get them to have a plan that is court enforced to fix the department and either the town is going to agree to that or theres going to be a legal battle about it. >> stand by with me gentlemen. i do want to fold these live pictures of the president and first lady in selma, alabama, as we listen in. it looks like they are preparing to walk across the edmund pettus bridge to mark an his store rake day in this country, 50 years ago ...

Destiny has been decided. many are sites of war, conquered in lexington, gettysburg. others are sites that symbolize the daring of americas character. independence hall seneca falls. kitty hawk, and cape canaveral. selma is such a place. in one afternoon, 50 years ago, so much of our toururbulent history, the anguish of civil war, the yolk of segregation and tyranny of jim crow the death of four little girls in birmingham the dream of a baptist preacher all that

The "newsroom". >> fredricka, if you can still hear me thank you. beautiful job covering that in selma, alabama. were going to continue to show you these live pictures of the edmund pettus bridge marking 50 years to the day that historic bloody sunday 1965 we look at all of the people gathered there after president obama spoke also the president noting that we have a way to go before the civil rights vision is entirely realized. the first african-american president of the country today in selma,...

Followed a strong historical example. >> for founders like jefferson and leaders like lincoln and fdr, the you can says of our experiment rested on engaging citizens and thats what we celebrate here in selma. >> the president went on to say the americans who crossed this bridge were not physically imposing but they gave courage to millions. the city of selma and historic events there were the subject of the oscar-nominated film. im joined now by an actor from that film trai byers. >> thank you f...

Across the edmund pettus bridge on a glorious sunny day in selma, alabama, marking an historic but bloody day in 1965 when so many people gathered together brave people of all ages whites and black, all sexual orientations marching across this bridge to fight for their right to vote in this country, ultimately leading to the passage of the voting rights act of 1965. we heard a very powerful speech from the president today. he was introduced by congressman john lewis who is also marching with him...

Experience what it was like for 20 people to be in one prison cell which is what many experienced here in selma 50 years ago. the president and first lady and the entire family is going to get a chance to see what is in that museum. overall, this is going to be an emotional experience for the first lady just as it has been for the thousands that have turned out here. >> absolutely it is. and the president himself has said its important to have his two daughters -- his young teenage daughters und...

And so now that the act has been weakened the president called on congress and dont just honor the march with a congressional gold medal. >> right. he certainly extended an honor to president george w. bush and acknowledged that it was george w. bush who tried to and did successfully extend voting rights. so together they stand on the importance of voting rights. athena jones, thank you so much for being here today in selma. our live coverage has been extraordinary. van jones was with us earlier...

And its not totally surprising that an african-american may end up polarizing many on these issues. but again there are moments where there is intense feeling and deep hatred and weve been able to move on from that. i think thats the presidents message. >> as we continue to talk i just want to point our viewers to the live pictures were seeing of the group gathered there in selma, alabama, as the president and the first lady are preparing to walk across the bridge to mark the significant -- the ...

To allow the iraqi army to do their thing. strategically, i believe the coalition has to get out in front of this. if they dont, if they kale daesh first and geographically what we are going to do with iran, we may be too far behind the power curve and the big winner could be iran and have more control of iraq. >> something of great concern that a lot of people are talking about, especially this week. thank you very much colonel reese, stay safe. coming up next were going to return to selma, t...

Scourge. they saw what john lewis had done. from the streets of tunis to ukraine, this generation of young people can draw strength from this place where the powerless could change the worlds greatest power and push their leaders to expand the boundaries of freedom. they saw that idea made real right here in selma, alabama. they saw that idea manifest itself here in america. because of campaigns like this voting rights act was passed. political and economic and social barriers came down. the cha...