Selma welcomes VP Kamala Harris as part of 57th annual Bridge Crossing Jubilee

Selma once again took center stage in national news on Sunday as the Queen City hosted Vice President Kamala Harris as keynote speaker at the 57^th Annual Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee.

Harris addressed thousands from a stage set up at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge at Water Avenue and Broad Street.

Press from across the country came to Selma to report on the Vice President’s visit. Secret Service agents lined the blocks of blocked off streets and monitored the crowd from the roof of downtown buildings during her visit.

Harris came to the Jubilee as part of a multi-vehicle motorcade from the east side of the bridge and was dropped off to meet and greet VIPs in tents set up along Water Avenue in front of Queen City Kale restaurant.

Harris brought with her five Cabinet members who spoke before her Sunday afternoon. 

Seating for about 100 was setup in front of the stage and filled quickly with VIPs that included many Selma city and Dallas County officials.

Behind a barricade at Water Avenue, thousands packed Broad Street to see her speak and to march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in annual recognition of Bloody Sunday when protestors were beaten by state troopers as they walked across the bridge to fight for equal voting rights in 1965.

It was unseasonably hot and sunny Sunday at 83 degrees with no shade, and Secret Service agents carried out of the crowd several attendees who got overheated in the long wait for the late-afternoon speech.

Dallas County native and Miss Alabama State University Kendra Angion got to introduce Harris who spoke from a podium featuring the vice presidential seal. 

Harris started out her speech sharing prayers for Ukraine and their fight against Russia’s invasion and the crowd responded with cheers of support.

“They are fighting for democracy and their country,” she said. “It is a reminder that democracy should never be taken for granted. By any of us.”

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Protestors marched in Selma that chilly Sunday in 1965 for a fundamental part of democracy - the right to vote, she said. And Americans are still fighting for the right to vote, she said. 

A record number of ballots were cast in the 2020 election and Harris said after that, states have been enacting anti-voting laws that she says makes voting more difficult, such as banning dropboxes and early voting and access to food and water for those waiting in line to vote. 

“These laws make it much more difficult to vote and were made with an expectation that we will not vote,” Harris said. “These are undemocratic laws. Un-American laws. So last year, we all joined together, locked arms, lifted voices and brought the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.”

The act failed to pass Congress in a vote on Jan. 19, and Harris said she has been travelling the country ever since meeting with leaders to gain more support.

“People are tired and frustrated. They’re scared that we risk losing the rights we fought so hard to win,” she said. “At this moment, we are faced with a choice that we have faced so many times before. Do we stand or do we fight?” 

Harris noted it took three tries for marchers to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge in 1965 and this will take the same kind of “resilience, determination and courage.”

Harris urged the crowd to register to vote and register others to vote, to volunteer as poll workers and to drive people to the polls.

“I am here again in Selma to say thank you for work, your sacrifice and dedication,” said Harris. “I came today to remind you we all stand together. We will secure the freedom to vote.”

She also encouraged the community to march for all freedoms such as social and racial justice.

She noted President Joe Biden made history by nominating the first Black female to serve as a Supreme Court Justice and that this nominee “stands on the shoulders of giants,” including legends who marched in Selma.