Let us remain standing as that great distinguished theologian the president of the San FranciscoTheological 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 pe