The Right to Vote

Throughout history up until 1965, blacks were not able to vote. In Selma, Alabama, 99% of whites were registered voters while the majority of blacks could not vote. Martin Luther King felt this was a good place where he could strive to achieve the right to vote for all blacks. On January 18, 1965, Dr. King led 400 marchers to the county courthouse where they could register to vote. As hundreds of people lined up to vote, many disobeyed the orders of Sheriff Clark, and violence erupted. As Dr. King witnessed from across the street, voters were mistreated, assaulted, and thrown into police cars.