entershow

entershow, originally uploaded by ujima.

March 7 On this date in 1965, the Edmund Pettus Bridge attack occurred. The incident began when about 600 Blacks left the Brown Chapel AME Church for a 50-mile march to Montgomery.Roughly 100 State Troopers, commanded by Major John Cloud, blocked the opposite end of the bridge. After crossing the bridge over the Alabama River, the marchers’ path was blocked by State troopers. Within a minute, the marchers were attacked by tear gas and charging horsemen. The incident was seen on national television while 16 marchers ended up in the hospital and another 50 received emergency treatment.