Staff Reports

The Selma times-journal

This week the National Conference Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act will showcase the effect of the act on the country, with programs at Concordia College and Brown Chapel A.M.E.

The conference begins today at 7 p.m. with a worship service at historic Brown Chapel A.M.E Church at 410 Martin Luther King Street.

The next three days will be filled with speakers, panel discussions and town hall meetings.

The Conference begins in earnest on Thursday at Concordia College. After a greeting from Concordia President Dr. Julius Jenkins, Nancy Worley, Alabama Secretary of State will speak.

Since Worley is in charge of Alabama Elections, her thoughts on the Voting Rights Act are very relevant to the conference, Wofford said.

After lunch, William F. Winter the former Governor of Mississippi will address the conference followed by Alabama Congressman Artur Davis.

Opening Friday, John K. Tanner, the Chief of the Voting Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice will address the conference.

Stephen F. Black will discuss the 1901 Alabama Constitution and how it impacts full implementation of the Voting Rights Act. Wofford said the Constitution will be a hot topic at the conference.

On Saturday,

the group will break for a tour of historic sites of the Black Belt in Perry, Dallas, Lowndes and Wilcox Counties. Finally, the event will close with a gala reception.

The conference is open to the public for the registration fee of $285 for all the events.