The Battle Of Bloody Sunday - 1053 Words

Title : The Battle of â€Å"Bloody Sunday† Subtitle: Innocent protesters beaten by cruel officers Joanne Blackmon marched hand and hand between two of her school teachers while they left the Brown Chapel Church. As the group of nearly 350 victims, mostly African American, walked through Selma, they prayed and sang. Once the crowd reached the Edmund Pettus Bridge, they were stopped short by Alabama State Troopers. Joanne’s grip tightened around her teacher s’ hands. Although the group of protesters were threatened by the troopers, they did not budge. The State Troopers showed no mercy as they brutally attacked the peaceful mob. As she breathed in air, Joanne immediately knew what she had inhaled - tear gas. The members of the group ran†¦show more content†¦Everyone seemed on board. On the morning of March 7, 1969, the Selma March started. Stopped Short Only a short time after, John Lewis and Hosea Williams led the crowd out of the church, starting with high hope. The group of protesters marched through Selma in pairs. Their minds were set on getting to Montgomery to confront the governor. As they were about to cross the Edmund Pettus they were stopped short by Alabama State troopers. â€Å"Go home or go to your church!† shouted one of the head State Troopers. The mob knew if they didn t move they would be beaten, but they stood strong and prepared themselves for the worst. The troopers threatened to attack if they did not move soon. Exactly one minute and five seconds later, the troopers charged. The crowd was violently beaten with billy sticks and forced to inhale the toxic tear gas. The group attacking them did not show any pity as they repeatedly struck and pounded most of the nonviolent protesters as they attempted to scrambled away. The violent officers chased them halfway back to the Brown Chapel. More than 90 innocent people were sent to the hospital shortly after. Only two days later, the crowd gathered once again in the church and prayed. They prayed for freedom and for their loved ones to heal soon. The building reeked of tear gas still clutching the protesters and their clothes. â€Å"Go to Jail by the Thousands† On the Tuesday directly after â€Å"Bloody