By Blake Deshazo

The Selma Times-Journal

Multiple civil rights organizations have reached an agreement to have just one march to commemorate Bloody Sunday during the 50th anniversary Bridge Crossing Jubilee in March.

When President Barack Obama’s plan to visit Selma Saturday, March 7, the actual anniversary of Bloody Sunday was announced multiple local officials spoke out against the President’s plan

“Bloody Sunday is sacred,” said Sen. Hank Sanders.  “It is sacred because the blood that was shed. It is sacred because of the sacrifice that people made. It was just a sacred march. When something is sacred you can’t move that around or diminish that. It is not just another march.”

Many believed multiple marches were being planned for the 50th anniversary. While there will not be a march on Saturday, March 7, President Obama will speak.

“It was just important to have unity, and one march is a symbol of that unity,” Sanders said. “Bloody Sunday is sacred to many people because many people make pilgrimages here each year. They’re not just coming for a march. They are coming for the sacred march of Bloody Sunday.”

For Sanders, who has helped organize the Bridge Crossing Jubilee for many years, Selma and the marches serve as a worldwide symbol.

“It’s a symbol in Alabama, it’s a symbol across this country, and it’s a symbol in countries far flung across continents,” Sanders said.

According to Sanders, organizers felt like multiple marches would show disunity for Selma and take away from the march planned for Sunday, March 8.

“If we have not united on the 50th celebration, then it sends a signal that the symbol is broken,” Sanders said. “It is just important that the symbol be protected as well. With all of these entities coming together, not only is the sacredness [protected], but the symbolism is also protected.”

The one march is intended to show unity for Selma and the rest of the world.

“I hope that there will be unity not only among organizations but [also] among people of different races, people of different classes and people of different political persuasions,” Sanders said.

The commemoration for Bloody Sunday has been held on Sunday for many years, and many wanted to keep it that way.

“Sacrifice was made on a Sunday,” Sanders said. The struggle came to a head on a Sunday, and it’s been commemorated on Sunday ever since.”