Knowing I had a distance to drive and some powerful sights along the way, Addie and I got started somewhat early this morning.
First stop: The Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, AL. This bridge, of course, is the location of Bloody Sunday, March 7, 1965, when John Lewis and Hosea Williams and 600 marchers protesting voter suppression attempted to cross the bridge, troopers opened fire, and 50 protestors were hospitalized. Visiting sites, monuments, and memorials make history and current events come alive and help me see the connections between various past events and present circumstances.
Second stop: Vicksburg National Military Park. I admit it: I am not a Civil War buff, and this site overwhelmed me. It was pivotal to the Union’s success, the rolling hills appeared daunting as a battlefield, and the many monuments create an eerie atmosphere. Nevertheless, the details of Civil War battles don’t really interest me.
Final stop: Vidalia, LA is across the Mississippi River from Natchez, MS, where I plan to explore tomorrow.
A park near the bridge shared stories of the bridge and the key people involved in the Civil Rights Movement.
Now it’s becoming clearer to me why the voting rights act has been named after John Lewis. Also, it’s becoming abundantly clear why this legislation MUST pass!
Edmund Pettus Bridge…from below.
So much history on this bridge.
Temple Mishkan Israel, Selma, AL. The earliest Jews arrived in the 1830s, formed the congregation in 1867, and built this synagogue in 1899. Three mayors of Selma were Jewish, terms served 1887-1889, 1895-1899, and 1915-1920. Once a congregation of 150 households, there are now nine members.
These signs dot Vicksburg. Notice anything about the colors chosen for the Union forces vs the Confederate forces…?
Vicksburg.
Vicksburg.
Vicksburg.
Sunset with the Mississippi and Natchez in the background.
