By BLAKE DESHAZO

The Selma Times-Journal

Just two days removed from seeing Oprah Winfrey and other members of the cast and crew from the movie “Selma” march on the historic Edmund Pettus Bridge, another well-known guest is set to visit the Queen City.

It was announced Tuesday that President Barack Obama plans to visit Selma in March.

“We’ve had a weekend that we won’t ever forget,” said Mayor George Evans. “The fact that he is coming just sends a very positive message that we are doing some things right despite of all the things we need to get right. I just want to thank the President for agreeing to come to Selma.”

President Obama will visit Selma Saturday, March 7 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Selma to Montgomery March and other historic civil rights marches across the state of Alabama.

Obama’s plan to visit, Evans said, is a positive thing for Selma.

“[The announcement] shows that he is coming because he wants to be a part of change, a positive change,” Evans said. “And I think it is just an indication that the 50th anniversary is just another way of promoting our city and letting people know that we just need to be positive about the change that is taking place.”

The trip is no surprise to Mayor Evans, but he was surprised at how early the announcement came.

“As a result of what happened here this past weekend, him seeing all of that, I guess you could say he needed to go ahead and get the word out so everybody can know when he is coming,” Evans said.

The last time President Obama visited Selma was in 2007, when he was running for the Democratic presidential nomination against Hillary Clinton. Both Obama and Clinton marched across the bridge for the anniversary that year. Vice President Joe Biden attended in 2013.

Evans said he hopes all of the positive attention Selma has received lately will not only make a difference in the nation, but also right here in Selma as well.

“It’s just another piece of the puzzle for bringing our city together,” Evans said. “I’m just excited about him coming, and the fact he is coming sends a message to the world that he wants to be a part of a historical event in our city.”

Evans said moments like this make him proud to be from Selma, and he cannot wait to see the impact Obama’s visit makes on the community.

“I’m proud that we’re doing things to bring about a positive change to our city, so we can all begin to work together for unity and having a better life for all of our citizens,” Evans said.

Obama last visited Selma for the 2007 anniversary, when he was running for the Democratic presidential nomination against Hillary Rodham Clinton. Both candidates and former President Clinton marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge where white police officers beat civil rights protesters in 1965.

The marches and signing of the Voting Rights Act have been dramatized in the film “Selma,” currently in theaters. Obama hosted a White House screening of the movie last week.