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The Mass Meeting officially opened the 59th annual Bridge Crossing Jubilee on Thursday at Historic Tabernacle Baptist Church.

Selma mayor James Perkins Jr. and Dallas County Probate Judge Jimmy Nunn delivered greetings, giving the audience an update on progress from the Jan. 12, 2023 tornado. 

Perkins thanked President Joe Biden and U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell for helping the Queen City recover.

“We are a recovering community,” Perkins said. “When this administration took office in 2020, we had to recover from Hurricane Zeta. Two years later, a tornado hit 40 percent of our city. Selma is being blessed. People come to Selma to get our energy to fight for their communities.”

Nunn said he is glad to see people come for the jubilee, but had a request.

“I’m excited about the jubilee, but I’m more excited to see you come celebrate with us,” Nunn said. “Before you leave Selma, we need your prayers. We also want your money and your fellowship.”

Tabernacle Baptist Pastor Dr. Otis Dion Culliver praised both Perkins and Nunn, saying they provided a proper setting for a mass meeting.

Rep. Prince Chestnut thanked the foot soldiers for paving the way to his political career.

“If not for you, I wouldn’t be serving in office,” Chestnut said. “You made it possible for Barack Obama and Hank Sanders to get elected. You made it possible for our kids to grow up in a different environment.”

Selma City Councilman Michael Johnson and Orrville Mayor Louvenia Lumpkin were the high-profile officials who attended the jubilee.