The African-American community in Selma, Alabama was fed up with the voting system was in their town but also their county. Out of the 15,000 African-Americans in Selma only 130 of they were able to register to vote because of the voting laws. They were also grieving the of Jimmy Lee Jackson, who was shot by a police when he was protecting his mother. Jackson was then brought to a hospital, where he was refused treatment because of the color of his skin. This is what influenced the march from Selma to Montgomery, a symbolic march.
The March
The protesters(600) met at Brown Chapel in Selma, despite the town's (racist) Governor disapproving the march. The person who led the march was, John Lewis. In march there were also students who joined the march to Montgomery. "I remember marching in silence for the first 2 to 3 blocks, because something didn't feel right" - Lynda Blackmon As soon as they reached the foot of the bridge, they saw the police officers lined up. A few of them wore gas masks, with clubs and bull-whips. The police men then told the marchers, to turn around and return home. Once they announced that they began to close in on the protesters.
The Brutality
The police rushed in, pushing and shoving the crowd the other direction. When the protesters wouldn't budge the officers began to use violence.
"People started falling like dominos, and then running" -Unknown "They came in from both sides, beating people, it was horrible" -Unknown "I heard the sound of John's head crack, I remember the sound of that when one of the state troopers hit him across the head." -Unknown
The police officers even resorted to using tear gas. Once the marchers were affected by the gas, they ran the other direction. As they were making their escape the police officers and white folks around them screamed racial slurs and other horrible names.
In all there were over 17 people seriously injured, not including those who weren't hospitalized. So many people risked their lives on this day, and were horribly beaten and degraded. This is why they call it "Bloody Sunday".