SAINT PAUL — Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon released the following statement today in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Selma-to-Montgomery voting rights marches in 1965.
“Today we honor the men and women who bravely affirmed the right for every American to have a voice and, most importantly, a vote. We honor the Minnesotans like Rev. John Cummins, Rev. Jim Kloster, Dr. Barbara Holmes, and many others, who marched in Selma fifty years ago, for standing up for equality and justice. Their courage, and the courage of hundreds of others, led directly to the passage of the Voting Rights Act, which made illegal the obstacles that many confronted. We also are reminded by the ongoing work of civil rights pioneers like Minnesota’s Josie Johnson, and that while tremendous progress has been made since 1965, there is still work to be done to make voting as easy as possible for every Minnesotan.”
Tomorrow, Secretary Simon will give remarks and participate in a march from the State Capitol to the Central Presbyterian Church in honor of the 50th anniversary of the historic Selma-to-Montgomery voting rights marches.
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Contact: Ryan Furlong, (651) 297-8919, ryan.furlong@state.mn.us