Sit a Spell // History // Civil Rights // Iconic Destinations
Dallas CountySouthwest Alabama
About
The Edmund Pettus Bridge is a historic bridge located in Selma, Alabama, USA. It spans the Alabama River and is named after Edmund Pettus, a Confederate general and U.S. senator from Alabama. The bridge is significant for its role in the civil rights movement of the 1960s.
On March 7, 1965, a group of civil rights marchers, led by Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis, attempted to cross the bridge as part of a protest for voting rights for African Americans. However, they were met by state troopers who violently attacked the peaceful demonstrators in what became known as "Bloody Sunday."
The event gained national attention and ultimately led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Today, the Edmund Pettus Bridge remains a powerful symbol of the struggle for civil rights and is a popular destination for visitors to Selma. The bridge was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2013.
