By Samantha Bolden | The Selma Times-Journal

A new book regarding the civil rights era gives an in-depth look into the tragic death of seminarian Jonathan Daniels.

“Blood Brother: Jonathan Daniels and His Sacrifice for Civil Rights” was written by Rich and Sandra Neil Wallace. The book tells the story of Daniels, who traveled all the way from New Hampshire to Selma to answer Dr. Martin Luther King’s call to help with voter registration of black residents.

On Aug. 20, 1965, Daniels and Richard Morrisroe as well as 20 other protesters had just been released from a six-day stay in the deplorable Lowndes County Jail after picketing a whites-only store in Fort Deposit.

Daniels and Morrisroe walked with two black teenage girls to nearby Varner’s Cash Store, one of the few places that would serve nonwhites, to buy cold drinks for the group.

The four were met at the store’s entrance by shotgun wielding volunteer sheriff’s deputy Tom L. Coleman. He threatened the group and pointed his shotgun at 16-year-old Ruby Sales.

Daniels pushed Ruby to the ground, taking a full shotgun blast to the chest and stomach. Morrisroe grabbed the other girl, Joyce Bailey, and ran, but he too was gunned down in the lower back.

Morrisroe survived after an 11-hour surgery in Montgomery; Daniels died instantly on the store’s front stoop.

Through Daniels’ letters, papers, photographs, and taped interviews, the authors investigated what led to his death, the trial of his murderer and how these events impacted the South as well as the nation.

The Wallaces were drawn to Daniels’ activism and courageousness after moving to his hometown of Keene, New Hampshire.

“This is someone that the whole nation should know about, especially given the struggle that is going on right now with voting rights,” Rich said. “So this is a historical story that is still relevant today, and we thought that it’d make a great book.”

While writing the book, the married couple said that they’ve had the chance to interview some of the protestors who fought against injustice with Daniels.

“I enjoyed sitting down with them to hear their memories of Jonathan Daniels,” Rich said. “That was vitally important to our book, and in my opinion, it brings the book to the level that it is.”

Sandra said that one of the most pivotal things that she’s learned from doing research is the fact that Jonathan Daniels’ skin didn’t determine his activism.

“He was able to cut through racial, cultural and social barriers, and he spoke out against injustice and made a difference,” Sandra said.

“I think that it’s so important that if you see some injustice, you should speak out.”

The couple plans to visit Selma in March for book signings. A hardcover of the book can be purchased on Amazon for $18.95.