Let us remain standing as that great distinguished theologian the president of the San Francisco Theological Seminary and who walked from brown chapel ame church all the way to this spot the reverend dr. Theodore gill will pronounce the invocation. Dr. Gill may i pray first . For myself and my brothers on the steps behind us. And in the windows around us and the prayer is not mine. Father in heaven, forgive us our trespasses. Amen and now for all of us, god of all nations b,lless this nation. Use its strength and beauty the justice we walked for in these days spread to the ends of the earth we have lived in and lived on on the road, and bless to us all this occasion that we may be more adequate to every occasion for jesus sake. Amen. In montgomery, governor wallace has just issue a message saying that he will not see any group of citizens until after the march has concluded and dispersed. When this is done, he will see any group of citizens from the state of alabama. At the speakers platform one of many civil rights speakers in montgomery this afternoon where more than 10,000 marchers have journeyed to this a capital. To the state capital. Determined to fight for justice. And finally, my friends, if this great march can force the government to force the state of alabama to let us march and assemble, we know we will not only get our civil rights but that alliance of forces will bring justice to all men in this nation black white, protestant catholic jew and any other. I salute the people of alabama. The most downtrodden of us has twisted the tail of everybody. And i will tell you, my friends we know longer now need say we shall overcome. To stand here, we have overcome. [applause] now that we have heard from the nation, let us hear from the state of alabama. Somebody has said that the negro is satisfied in alabama. This i believe and this i know is a lie. A few nights ago, on this street of marion, alabama, after negroes had gone to jail by the hundreds Jimmy Lee Jackson was by a state trooper. Let us know hear a word from marion, alabama. The community in which Jimmy Lee Jackson lived. The report will be made by mr. Albert turner of marion, alabama, from the heart of the black belt. Mr. Turner ladies and gentlemen, we are not satisfied. I bring you greetings from the town of 4000 people, a town where there are 5000 negroes. A town where are 3000 white people. 3 we are not satisfied. Let the people of the world now that the people in marion, alabama, are not satisfied with what is going on there. I dont have but two minutes. So im going to have to get on with this this. With business. From 1954 to 1963 there were no negroes there. During that time, we had people with phds. We also had people that in the system. We had a system where only one negro is allowed to take the test at one time. Five negroes had an opportunity to take the test. We also had system where they would hide day by day. So we cannot even find the red stars there. We also had a system where you had to have a voucher. If the voucher did not satisfy the red stars you didnt get ahead. They worked 2 to 3 hours a day. Then they would close up and go home. They met in different places. We wrote about 325 letters to the federal government at one point in this state. And then at this point we got only 40 people [indiscernible] they came back to they had to wait their 60 day period. They were failed. People were fired for trying to become keep people back. People were failed because the fact that they demonstrated in marion. Anybody who was demonstrating in a march was not allowed to vote. People who had Police Records also failed. All they had to do was have a traffic ticket. The last two months, we had 1800 negroes go to court. 400 of these people were able to take the test. Thank you. It is reported that down in selma alabama, some months ago when the negroes began to make their desires for freedom known, sheriff jim clark asked, what does the negro want . And the president of the Dallas County voters league, the reverend james reese said, what do you have . Whatever you had, that is what we want. Let us hear now from the president of that Great Movement down in selma alabama. The reverend james f. Reese. Rev. Reese to mr. Chairman and to all of our american friends it siis my good pleasure to speak for selma. And to set the record straight the people in selma are not satisfied, either. For suddenly we have an victims of intimidation, brutality harassment around the process of registering to vote. And during this process, as of august 1964, only 335 negroes were registered. Out of 15,000 who were of voting age. And out of 14,000 plus whites, who were of voting age 9542 were registered. So, we are here today to make our witness known not only to the governor but to this nation that the people of selma in Dallas County are determined to be free, they are determined to get the the right to vote4 in order to gain citizenship. In this process, we find that the registrars in Dallas County, also only in session two days a month, five hours during these two days. And they take two hours for lunch. And we as citizens of selma in Dallas County, have stood in line 500, 600 and more strong waiting from 9 00 until 4 00, waiting to be registered only to find out from the registrar im sorry, the board ids closed. Come back in two weeks. So, yesterday, we let the world know that we are determined to get the ballot in selma in Dallas County, and that we will accept nothing less. For how long can america stand idly by and see these acts of rally brutality, see the harassment and not make their witness known . Thank you very much. [applause] we will now have greetings from the director of this march. One of the most dedicated and the bravest men i have ever had the privilege of knowing mr. Jose williams. Mr. Williams Freedom Fighters, the determinants of tomorrows world, the leader and other to see which guests honestly i wanted these moments simply to pay tribute to those that truly amdemade these few moments possible. I have the greatest admiration for those that marched 50 miles, but i think i have a little more admiration for those that tried to corssross that bridge on march 7 just this side of selma alabama. And i want you to know that we are standing here this afternoon because of the blood that ran from the heads of hundreds of black and white citizens of america. I wanted to know that we are standing here this afternoon because judge johnson decided to George Wallaces [indiscernible] now, we have had a wonderful staff. I would just like to take time to mention their names. Those that worked on the Logistics Committee for this march on montgomery. It was the most amazing thing i have ever been able to witnessed so good because we had an expert in almost every field. For instance, we had a young man named marty shields that was working with the student nonviolent Board Meeting committee that furnished all of the speakers, and even took a private plane, and flew to new york city and several thousand dollars equipment he returned. It did not cost us one dime. Then we ahvehave a wonderful man by the name of willie that was in charge of village greens, the garbage and all of our drinking water. Willie brought to us for years of experience in an united hatesarmy in in the United States army in defense of this country as a foot so ldier. I would like to speak of a wonderful young fellow by the name of dave duncan. Dave was in charge of medical care housing and screening of the 300 persons that would make the march. We were fortunate enough to have dave because of his background. Dave is from a family that is in the Manufacturing Business of clothing and shoes and camping equipment, etc. So dave was able to acquire for us tents, generators, and Water Bottles and sleeping bags and blankets we probably would have never been able to get it how must at almost half price. Give dave a large hand. Hes a kind of a bald headed fellow. Then we had ken murdoch. Murdoch was able to put together 25 trucks. In several instances we used several buses and hundreds of cars to give us the type of support we needed from the trust tatian committee. A young man from canada from the transportation committee. A young man from canada anhandled our finances. One of the most instrumental members of the committee was responsible for getting marty who saved us 10,000 on communications equipment. I would ask you to give them a hand when im finished, my assistant al lingo. He hails from texas and he as a member of the southern christian leadership conference. On behalf of all of the people that are participating in and the thousands of americans and millions of people all over the world that is supporting this movement, i want to give the greatest appreciation and thanks to the person that serve who make it possible for you to travel from selma alabama, to montgomery. I thank you. Now, my friends, it is rain ing. But we are going to stay right here in the rain. [cheering] let me hear from you. [loud cheers] and we are going to listen right here in the rain. We did not walk 50 miles for nothing. Are you going to stay here . Yes are you going to listen . Yes let god send the rain and we are going to get the freedom. Now we want to turn from our state leaders for just a moment and hear from our National Leaders froor a while. For we do have National Leaders and i want to present to you now the dean of all of the negro leaders in the United States of america, that champion of human rights who called the first march, mr. A. Gillibrand off. A. Phillip randolph . Mr. Randolph brother chairman, dr. King great profit and moral leader, this is the greatest demonstration for civil rights inever held in this land. Neither black or White Alabama will be the same when this day is done. It is a mandate that all of us should continue to march on to the land the Promised Land of freedom. We shall overcome. [cheering] we will now have remarks from one of the greatest leaders of all times who heads our oldest civil rights organization, mr. Roy wilkins. An articulate spokesman, the distinguish executive secretary of the National Association for the advancement of colored people. Give him a big hand. [applause] mr. Wilkins thank you Ralph Abernathy. I am proud today. I do not have to tell you what you have done today. You you know it. You have shaken them up from the gulf of mexico to canada. They are still shivering. But i am proud to ring greetings today from Martin Luther king, the intrepid leader of this march and the moral leader of all of us back to the path of righteousness and to congratulate him and all those who worked with him. I am proud to speak for the members of the naacp who are here today from all corners of our country, as Ralph Abernathy says let me hear from you. [cheering] and especially from the Bullock County alabama branch, which is my branch to which i belong. Bollock county hold up your signs. There they are. There they are. Bollock county, alabama. You know, last week a cleark here clerk here in one of the Montgomery Stores was quoted as saying what do the negroes want now . Well lady, they want what Burt Williams used to say everything from the skin out and from an overcoat in. They want just what other americans want. This historic march is one more evidence that in this first emancipation century we have b een busy building a house, a house not made with hands, a house for our spirits once bowed down but now tall and free, a house impervious to epithets, to sticks and stones and even to bullets, a house that turns away ridicule, one where hatred cannot penetrate, a house of love and peace but of justice, one big enough and warm enough for us and ours and also for all of them on the other side, whenever they are ready to answer. For however great may be the intentions they on the other side they along to us. And we to them. All of us together make up this great nation, which we and they love and which we and they have died to defend. This is a new house, and we are a new people. Difficult days may lie ahead, my friends, but none like the days of the dark yesterday. No advice can anticipate every development we may meet down the road, but i invite you to use with me a favorite guide and inspiration that i have held through the years fro the book of leviticus 26 13. I am the lord your god. Which brought you out of the land of egypt that ye should be should not be their bondman. And i have broken the bands of your yoke and made you go upright. May god bless you as you go henceforth upright bondmen in body or spirit to no man. Thank you. [of [applause] thank you. We now return to the leaders of the state of alabama. But before we do that, i want to speak to the press now. I want to address these remarks to the men of the television and to the men of radio and to the men of newspapers and magazines and journals and other periodicals. Well the segregationist has given you a pretty tough time, also. You have made men of you many of you this journey with us all the way from selma. And you have reported the facts. And i want you to know i serve notice on you today that id dont anything but the facts today. I have employed a special person to give me the estimate and the count of the people that are here today. Now you cant see them because you are all fenced in. And the count is that we have here today more than 50,000 [applause] now, you believe me. And you go ahead and quote me on it. Thank you very kindly. Now we are back to the leaders of the state of alabama that magnificent leader from tuscaloosa where the university of alabama is located, the reverend t. Y. Rodgers. Rev. Rogers to my leader, dr. Martin luther king jr. To my fellow Freedom Fighters from all over the world, to my governor who stood in the door of the schoolhouse at the university of alabama, tuscaloosa, alabama, is in montgomery today and we are here to stand in the door of the Alabama State capital. [cheers] we are here today because we are not satisfied in tuscaloosa. We want the governor of our state to know that there are black folks in alabama who are tired of the foot of oppression honor necks. We want the governor of our state to know that Police Brutality eve in tuscaloosa even in tuscaloosa is not yet extinct. We want the governor of our state to know that we have not forgotten our forth others forefathers, that we shall walk not only from selma to montgomery, but from every village to the state capital until every black man has thrown off the shackles of segregation and discrimination. [applause] there is a man here today who met a bull on the streets of birmingham alabama. And he had an encounter with him. And when he got through, he had changed this man from a bull into a steer. I present to you now that great champion of human rights freddie lee shuttlesworth. Shuttlesworth thank you. Dr. Abernathy and my leader dr. King. Distinct guest distinguished guest. I just have one or two and to say. One of them is im sorry for that im not close enough to the capital. I think the sportt where judge davis stood is up there, and that is where i wanted to get today, but maybe dr. King want to get that spot next time. So we will say that tillman. Till the next time. The next thing he has been bothering me is i do not know whether every day i dont see any american flags flying on the state Capital Building. [cheering] i believe, and this is about the only state capital that is flying the american flag. I see that alabama falg. Lag. I salute that. But the other thing that got under that, they are to put that thing we thought were were through with that 100 years ago. We have come here today after treading a rouch gh and rocky pathway of abuse and misuse, of trial and jubilation, a formal acts of horrible acts perpetrated by society who jailed men, women and children. A society which allows billy clubs of its officers and tear gas stop legitimate marchers towards freedom. But we are here just the same. And i think bull carter intended to give george some advice that he did not get to him before the march at selma. You see, we sent bull on birmingham because he sure wouldve told him, george, you cannot stop them from margin. For gods sake let them march and i believe this is a Nonviolent Movement and a Nonviolent Movement you have to be nice even to your enemy. And i have to Say Something good that i believe governor wallace my god im sorry i did not let them come across the bridge. Now i am supposed to bring greetings from birmingham, alabama. And birmingham is a magic city. There like here a climate of oppression rains on one hand and will neglect of its negroes innocence on the other. If the mobs dont stop negroes, the police will if the police miss you, the courts are bound to get you. These are the hectic days of bull. Mr. Carter who us to set down the law. Im the law. He brought that down to brother george. Because george is trying to use it now. But now, since we have turned mr. Carter out, we got a mayor that is not quite a bull he thinks that you can substitute tears for positive action. His philosophy now seems to be dont act bad, but do not go in any further than you have to go. And dont do anymore then you must do. And because he is crying the klansmen are using more dynamite now than they used to use. We are going to have to start devastating like hell in birmingham, alabama. Now, the Voter Registrations have not become quite christian either. I cant take time to quote the statistics. The Voter Registration policy is now let many come but let few pass. They still use a test where a california lawyer cannot pass. They still ask petty, still use petty criminal offenses. You had a few lottery tickets, you are a convict. You had too many drivers offenses when demonstrations were going on, you still cannot qualify. In other words, if you have been around a day or two, you cannot have good character. Still too many received letters you did not pass. No reason why. Still questions asking about women when they go down there. How long have you been married and how old is your first child . In other words, b3ee sure you are not pregnant when you got married. And if by chance you are single and divorced, be sure to carry your divorce papers. This is still taxation without representation. We think people ought to vote. I am not responsible for what my mother did, what she did before i got here. I am a citizen and all versus the constitution said born or nationalized naturalize ours uses of these united hates. Those states who make any law im glad to be here today to join in wwithith dr. King, and all of the great negroes in this area to rise up and stand up like that bloody head. Im glad to be here. Brother wallace, we are here today. If you do not hurry up and act right, we will be back. Now in 1964, we had a Great Campaign slogan. Allt t the way with lbj. I think its time for us keep on wagging until lbj goes all the way with us in alabama. We want to get inside the capital. We want to get some jobs. We are tired of negroes carrying papers that someone else votes on. We want some jobs. And we are not going to be set as i did to we get them we are not going to be satisfied until we get them thank you, dr. Shuttlesw2orth. And now we will have the response of the movement. By that great tactician, the g reat strategist, that great nonviolent leader who came out o f the wilderness of mississippi to the swamp of alabama. Reverend james beville. Rev. Beville god bless you. Thank you very much. Im kind of tired. We walked all the way from selma. And weve been in a fight over there for eight weeks before we started walking. Now we need to talk about what do we do when we get off the march. It is a great thing to celebrate, and negroes, great folks to celebrate. We celebrate everything. But we dont want to get riled up celebrating something that has never happened yet. We came here to tell mr. Wallace a few things and to tell the nation some things and to tell ourselves some things. In the state of alabama, 94 of the citizens are black. Yet no citizen serves in any risk wants will position in any place in the State Government. That is an indictment of the intelligence of the leaders of alabama for not raising the issue that men must dissipated in the government. Must participate in the government. Washington back in 1775, it must be good for negro people in 1965. And most of the counties, except one county, the negroes are not serving in any elected capacity. In all the large cities and the state of alabama and in most of the black counties. Negroes are not serving in any elected capacity. They have been robbed of all political participation. We are here to tell mr. Wallace and mr. Johnson we know the State Government, the federal government was apart in disenfranchising negro people and we are not going to tolerate a disenfranchising we want to know that and understand that. All the negroes of alabama must know and feel that not only must be cheer people in selma for marching but we must much until every march until every negro is registered in alabama. Mr. Wallace, thinks we are going home. He thinks it is all over. We want him to understand that if we come back, we plan to come back. We do not plan to go home after two hours. Mr. Wallace hes part of the whole political system that is filled us in franchising negro people. And that system must be broken. Two years ago we were in birmingham, alabama, where four girls were killed in a church. And there were killed not by rabblerousers but they were killed by the local government because they were irresponsible to negro citizens. Most of the murders perpetrated against negro people in alabama is perpetrated by the State Government of alabama, state, county, and. City. And the only way we can correct that is not by cursing out wall ceace byut by electing officials who would respect the sacredness of all citizens. We cannot do that by making kind remarks. We have to do that i getting back by getting back in our counties and make sure our movements are on the road. We have thousands of negroes that month he put on the books. Thousands of negroes that have not heard of Freedom Movement is going on in alabama. We have thousands of people who do not even know about the march on montgomery. We have a lot of work to do. We have a lot of work to do in the counties here it and we plan to be back into the counties marching negroes on the courthouses in every county. And if mr. Wallace does not plan to comply with the bill passing congress, we will be back to see mr. Wallace. I do not think he is going to comply because in 1854, the Supreme Court of the United States said segregation was immoral and wrong and mr. Wallace in alabama has not complied yet. I suspect mr. Wallace will get ready for september because we plan to march on schools in september in alabama. And i suspect that there are going to be a lot more demonstrations in alabama. Until the negro people can fully participate in the government. And i want you to know, im not interested in standing up here in the rain. Im interesting and being a state senator from alabama. Im not interested in protesting on the steps. I see the policeman standing there to keep us out, that they know we have seats inside. Many of the seats in that capital belonged to negro people of alabama. We want those. Seats. And we are going to keep on demonstrating until we get our seats. We do not want the steps. We want the capital. Thank you reverend beville. The eyes of the world are upon us and upon alabama. Let us hear now from a man who can tell us how it looks the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize champion of human rights under secretary of the United Nations dr. Ralph bunch. Dr. Bunch fellow americans courageous americans americans who have the guts to take a stand on the greatest moral issue in the history of this nation, not much i can say excpetept by god were here. Little more need be said because there are no words that could ever hope to be as eloquent as this magnificent historic march itself has been. And this has been made possible by the superlative leadership of dr. King and his able associates. When i was walking along with dr. King, i said to him, that this must be his greatest triumph. In light of all of the obstacles he had to overcome. And he admitted that it was. And incidentally i should say to you what you must already know, hes not only a great leader, drl. King, but he is also quite a walker. He walks with such ease, real coollike, that i got the impression that maybe he was getting of all help from the lford. From the lord. But i was very sure that the lord was not helping my legs. Governor wallace and some others in these parts denounce many of us who are here, and that includes me, as being outsiders meddlers, and i stoutly deny this. Im here and i wish governor wallace to know it, because i belong here. [applause] im here because as an american, an american with a conscience, with a sense of justice and decency and with a deep concern for all americans and the problems all over this country, my conscience and my m ind tell me that this is where i must be. I came here to identify, to identify with the just cause of the right of every negro in alabama not to as governor wallace said not long ago, who was qualified the most sadistic statement that has been made but every negro that earnestly wishes to vote must have that right. As our president himself has said, every american should identify with that cause. I say to governor wallace no american can ever be an outsider anywhere in this nation. And governor [applause] all of these people out here, all of these people who have come in this great failings phalanx are very great americans, blackandwhite they are the greatest americans. Why . Because they speak to bring unity, to bring maximum strength to this country. To the end that the United States of america may become as it can become whitrete ande and black together, the greatest society not in contemporary times that of the whole history of society. Unless the governor has forgotten it and when i look up at the top of the Capital Building it appears that he and others have forgotten it alabama lost its attempt to leave this union. To lead this union. That flag should have been down 100 years ago. [applause] and i may say that i feel discomfort. I feel traitorous to my country standing here under the shadow of that flag. If governor wallace or anyone else doubted that two southern crosses have been forever lost, the cause of the confederacy and the inhuman on american attempt to keep negro citizens suppress and oppressed, alal doul doubts about that had to be is a painted this morning when we marched has d to be dissipated this morning when we marched singing we shall overcome. Now whtat we are doing here is an allamerican attack on an allamerican problem. In the United Nations, we have known from the beginning that secure foundations for peace in the world can be built only upon the principles and practices of equal rights and equal status for all peoples respect and dignity for all men wherever they are whatever their color or race or religion or culture. The world is overwhelmingly with us in this struggle, in this cause of that you may be assured. When i went back to new york last monday and encountered delegates to the United Nations individually and in meetings, everywhere the ritura was al was the same. First and foremost, they wanted to know every detail about what was going on down here. This took precedence of all u. N. Business. In conclusion may i say that it was unfortunate in my view that this nonviolent, peaceable march had to be protected by the federal government. But since that was the case, since the government of the state was in daefault, then it was an expression of the Firm Determination of the National Government to protect the human rights of all of its citizens that led to the the federalization of the Alabama National guard and the protection that was given. But i would like to give one word of advice to my National Government. If they ever had ve to undertake this sort of responsibility again, the next time when they federalize a state national guard, i hope they will make sure that members of that guard are not wearing confederate flags on their jackets. [applause] well theres a great old song saying therell be some changes made. Well our presence here today in this vast multitude testifies that some changes have been made in alabama and testifies that a whole lot more changes, important and radical changes are going to be made and very quickly. I i salute everyone of you for expressing by your presence here the finest in the american tradition. You are in truth the modern day version of minutemen minutemen of the american conscience. You have written a great new chapter in the heroic history of american freedom. Thank you. [applasuuse] thank you dr. Bunch. Now i must insist that all of our speakers will cut their remarks. Please cut them in half. And i present now the executive secretary of the student nonviolent coordinating committee, mr. Jim foreman. Mr. Foreman will take one minute to make a presentation. Than yk you. I will try to keep it less than a minute. What i want to say basically is that in 1901 the ztaState Government of alabama became a totalitarian government. One of the ways he maintain that is to keep a police force. I want to address my remarks to the Police Situation in montgomery because today there are 65 students in jail who have been on a Hunger Strike since last thursday. 75 more students on a Hunger Strike extremely famished and physically unable to continue the Hunger Strike. So as we hear the presentation and as we make this witness, let us nkkotot forget those people and let us also remember that two weeks ago yesterday some 350 students from tuskegee, alabama, and Alabama State made a witness till 1 13030 in the morning presenting a petition to the governor and he refused to see them. The men standing on the state capital, love them rode some of them rode horses and beat down people from Alabama State and his 80 and tuskegee because they were trying to maintain a totalitarian government and you do that to the police force. The question of Police Brutality is that something that this nation must contend with. There is one man in the United States who must address himself to that problem and that is the president of the United States. Thank you. We will now have mrs. Amelia bowington to read to you a petition. Mrs. Bowington from selma alabama. [applause] petition to the honorable george c. Wallace issued of god citizen of the United States and governor of the state of alabama. We as citizens of alabama citizens of many states in our United States and citizens of several foreign countries, come praying the blessing of god upon you and we, many responsibilities that are yours to discharge. We come petitioning you to join us in spirit and in truth in what is historys and Americas Movement toward the great society. A nation of justice where none s hall prey upon the weakness of other, a nation of plenty where greed and poverty shall be done away, a nation of brotherhood where success is founded upon service and honor given for nobleness alone. We have coeme to represent the negro citizens of alabama and freedom loving people from all over the United States and the world. We have come not only 65 days and 60 miles but we have come from three centuries of suffering and hardship. We have come to you, the governor of alabama, to declare that we must have our freedom now. We must have the right to vote. We must have equal protection under the law. An end to police the tally. Police brutality. When the course of human events denied citizens of this nation the right to vote, a right to adequate education an opportunity to earn sufficient income and when legal channels for real change are slow and cost, a people must turn to the rights provided by the 1st we must appeal to the seat of government with nonviolence. Our physical appearance and the moral power of our souls thus, we present this petition. We call upon you, governor wallace, to declare your faith in the american creed to declare that all men are created equal. We call upon you to establish democracy in alabama by taking the steps necessary to ensure the registration of every citizen. By ending the poll tax, by opening the registration books at times when they are convenient to working people, such as nights, and by appointment of negro citizens to the board in policymaking positions. We call upon you to put an end to Police Brutality and to ensure the protection of the laws of black and white citizens alike. We call upon you to end the climate of violence and hatred. And by avoiding the perpetration of racism through statements and political addresses. [applause] can you hear me . I want to know because now i want to hear you. Do you approve of this petition . Do you approve that this will be the only petition that we will send to governor wallace . Those who favor, say i. The is have it, and the motion is carried. [applause] dr. King, our leader, has appointed the following persons to present this petition to the governor of the great sovereign state of alabama. With instructions that this petition comes from dr. King, it comes from you, it comes from the poor negroes and negroes all over the state of alabama. The following persons are to compose the committee. The reverend joseph, the reverend fred wreath dr. Cashin of huntsville alabama, attorney fred d gray of Montgomery Alabama, dr. Aji gatson reverend rogers of tuscaloosa, alabama, the ship bishop much inson, and dr. Foster, the president of teske tuskeegee institute. The reverend fred shuttlesworth, reverend joseph winger, a white lutheran minister of birmingham, alabama, attorney billings of birmingham alabama rufus lewis of Montgomery Alabama and mr. Dick drennons of the university of alabama, a white student. If you approve of this committee, say i. The committee is now instructed to meet for final instructions in the auditorium of the dexter avenue baptist church, one block away here in the shadow of the capital where our leader, dr. King, has been pronounced. We will now return to our National Leaders. Mr. James farmer could not be here today because of illness. But we do want mr. Jim pick to tell us i want to bring greetings from jim farmer. There are a lot of people in the march from all over the country from as far away as the west coast. As for myself, some of you know i have a souvenir from alabama 53 stitches in my head which i got on the freedom ride. But at least i am alive. Where is whereas one of my friends is dead. It is appropriate today to talk about build more bill more because he is the first man who attempted a freedom walk across the highways of alabama and he was killed in the attempts. That was the post man who decided to personally cross alabama and is a city and deliver a letter, appealing to his conscious. Bill never reached jackson because he was shot down. The members who tried to complete his walk were met by state troopers and were arrested. I came down here at that time to give a Memorial Service for bill. I said at that time that i hope i would see the day in the nottoodistant future when it would be possible to conduct a freedom walk across the highways of alabama. That day has come. All that i regret is that bill more is not alive to see it and be with us today on this freedom walk. [applause] i am delighted to present to you one of the finest young men i have had the privilege of knowing in my life. Like myself, he is a product of alabama. He comes to the spotlight and has assumed leadership in this nation from just 50 miles away. Let us here the leader of the nonviolence coordinating committee, mr. John lewis. [applause] my fellow Freedom Fighters. As a native of troy, alabama, i am happy to be able to stand here and share this great moment in history. This is the greatest and perhaps the most significant demonstration and the history of the civil rights movement. Just a few weeks ago, governor wallace said there would be no march from selma to montgomery. He used troops to beat us down. But you, the freedom loving people of alabama said that you have a constitutional right to march. He was determined to march and you did march. The president of the United States made it clear to the American People and he made it clear to governor wallace that the state of alabama is still a part of the union. Need a doctor . We, the negro people of alabama have been exploited, and we have been dehumanized by discrimination and segregation. Hundreds of thousands of you have gone to jail over and over again in marion, and selma. And you stand here as witness to the fact that you want to be free and you want to be free here and now. I think the president made it clear by responding to your demands that we will get a voting lot based on one man, one vote. All the negro people of alabama and assisted the will be able to register and vote. I know that many of you are tired. You are tired of being beaten, arrested and jailed because you want to be free. Some of you have made the trek cooked food, and nursed the babies for low pay or no pay at all. We are tired of being forced less. Forced less foreceless. Within a system, the right of people to vote, it is demanding a war, and we are involved in a nonviolent war. We are involved in a nonviolent revolution. We do not have guns. We do not have billy clubs. We do not have tear gas. The only thing we have is our bodies our tired feet. The same feat that brought us from selma to montgomery, and our bodies will take us to victory in the state of alabama, right in the heart of the black belt. [applause] as we lead this march go down to the county courthouse and attempt to register and vote like we did in selma, and marion, and wilcox county. The state of alabama and the negro people of this state we are making it clear all over the world, not just in this state and nation that our struggle is a struggle for freedom. The struggle is one in the same. Is the struggle for freedom and human dignity. [applause] too many people have been beaten shot, and even killed. We have had enough of that. Now is the time for all of us to make decisions. Mr. Whitney young, the director of the National Urban league, will bring us greetings at this time. Let us listen to the leader who has done so much for our nation and people, mr. Whitney young. Reverend abernathy friends of freedom one question has been asked to me repeatedly by reporters. Is this more significant than the august march . This type of question need not be answered yes and no. This march shows our ability to move from the general grievances that we express so magnificently in washington to the specific situations. In this case, the right to peacefully demonstrate and petition, for the right to vote. It also shows our ability to mobilize not just in washington, and to mobilize in a united way but it shows our ability to mobilize anywhere in this United States where human beings are denied their basic rights. Make no mistake, this we will do. I would like to ask the citizens the white citizens a question. I would like to ask the white citizens of alabama how long, how long can you continue to afford the luxury of a political system and Public Officials who by their rigidity and vote, have today been responsible for bringing in federall
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