Selma Jubilee events, debate draw Democratic presidential hopefuls

SELMA, Ala. (WSFA) - Several Democratic presidential hopefuls will visit Selma this weekend for the 55th anniversary of Bloody Sunday.

Tuesday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., confirmed she was making the trip to Alabama. The following day Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., former Mayor Pete Buttigieg, former Vice President Joe Biden and former Mayor Mike Bloomberg confirmed they would participate in events in Selma.

Each is vying for the Democratic Party nomination to challenge President Donald Trump in November.

This weekend’s events will include a first-ever presidential forum for Selma. The forum, tabbed to be held Sunday at 4 p.m. at Wallace Community College, will be moderated by Joy Reid of MSNBC’s “AM Joy” and the Rev. Mark Thompson of “Make it Plain with Mark Thompson.”

Warren, Klobuchar, and possibly others are scheduled to attend the forum.

This weekend marks the 55th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday” which refers to March 7, 1965, when marchers, crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge, were stopped and beaten by state troopers and local police, with over fifty protesters being hospitalized.

The beatings sparked national outrage and lead to the Selma-to-Montgomery March and passage of the 1965 Voting Rights.

The annual event is one of the biggest dealing with civil rights in the United States and is a celebration, a memorial and an educational opportunity for everyone who attends.

The Bridge Crossing Jubilee will go from Thursday through Sunday with more than 40 events free to the public.

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