Barack Obama in Selma, Alabama



photo: Timothy McIntyre

Barack Obama joins Hillary Clinton and President Bill Clinton yesterday for the 42nd anniversary of the voting rights marches in Selma, Alabama.

The Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches in 1965 drew international attention when Governor George Wallace ordered state troopers to break up the demonstrations. Troopers used sticks, whips and tear gas to disperse the crowd - all of which was captured on footage shown around the world.

The march was a major turning point for the Civil Rights movement, contributing to the introduction of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Barack Obama spoke yesterday at the Brown Chapel AME Church - the place where the marches commenced 42 years ago.

A section of the Obama speech, where he addresses a key issue that some pundits have raised...




Full text of Barack Obama's speech at the Brown Chapel AME Church here.