President Joe Biden will visit Selma this Sunday for the annual Bloody Sunday commemoration, the White House confirmed on Tuesday.
Biden is scheduled to speak at the 58th anniversary of the bloody attack during the first attempt of the Selma-to-Montgomery march, led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.. The savage beating by police and state troopers of peaceful protestors that day – captured by cameras and aired by TV stations nationwide – sparked national outrage and ultimately led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act.
Biden’s visit will also allow the president to view the damage sustained by the city and the surrounding area during a Jan. 12 tornado. Biden has pledged to provide Selma and Dallas County with all resources available to assist in the cleanup and reconstruction.
“I am thrilled that President Biden has accepted my invitation to visit Selma for the 58th anniversary of Bloody Sunday,” Rep. Sewell said in a statement. “As Selma continues to recover from the January 12th storms, President Biden’s presence will send a clear message that our community is not alone and shows that the federal government will continue to be a partner in rebuilding Selma and Dallas County. I look forward to welcoming the President to my hometown as we reflect on the sacrifices of the Foot Soldiers in the name of equality and justice for all.”
The visit will be Biden’s third to the city. He spoke at the 2020 Bloody Sunday ceremony at the Brown Chapel AME Church and also attended the 2013 event when he was serving as Vice President under President Barack Obama.
