On the 21st of March in 1965, on what was the third attempt by organizers to do so, voting rights activists successfully marched 54 miles from Selma, Alabama to the state capital Montgomery, arriving there with more than 25,000 people.

The marches were organized by civil rights activists to demonstrate the desire for black citizens to exercise their constitutional right to vote, in defiance of state repression. By highlighting racial injustice, they contributed to the passage of the Voting Rights Act that year, a landmark federal achievement of the civil rights movement.

The first attempt to make the march happened on March 7th, but failed due to police brutality. Police knocked marchers to the ground, beat them with nightsticks, and fired teargas. One marcher, a 14 year old girl, required 28 stitches in the back of her head. Although the assault ended the first attempt of protesters to march to Montgomery, it brought international attention to the protest.

After a federal court ruled that the march was legal, the third and successful attempt to march to Montgomery was made. By its end, 25,000 people marched to steps of the State Capitol Building in Montgomery. The protest was a watershed moment in the civil rights struggle, and, by the next year, 11,000 black people were successfully registered to vote in Selma.

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  • Commiejones [comrade/them, he/him]
    ·
    7 months ago

    Never be afraid to bend the rules. You are the MASTER. Your goal is to tell an interesting story. If that means everyone dies at the end so be it, or if it means giving the players a miraculous intervention to save them.

    Try to remind your players that this is not a power fantasy. Their characters should have long term personal goals other than "become super powerful." If they don't have them then make them up for the players. I find family obligations to be a good driver like raising money to save the family farm or tracking down a kidnapped/enslaved family member or proving a family members innocence, tracking down an inheritance.

    Reward interesting ideas and good roleplaying and do it obviously and immediately. You need to work hard to train your players to join in on telling a good story rather than grasping for more power.