Dear Editor: 

I want to thank Selma Mayor Darrio Melton, Councilwoman Susan Youngblood, interim Selma Police Department Chief Johnny King and Sgt. Roy Nix for creating a warm, welcoming and safe environment for 120 people from Washington D.C. the weekend of Jan. 13 and 14 who were in Selma for the very first time.

This group came to Selma to learn about and experience the message of the civil rights events from 1965 in Selma and to pray here.

Because of their religious beliefs, this group was mandated to not operate a vehicle beginning on Friday at sundown through Saturday at sundown. That meant they had to walk from the Selma Convention Center to the Quality Inn Friday night and around town all day Saturday including a walk to the Jackson House on Lapsley St.

They left Selma headed back to Washington with a wonderful experience, a warm, pleasant and new vision of appreciation for Selma.

This was a result in large part to our city officials and police department.

Thank you so much Mayor Melton, Councilwoman Youngblood, Chief King and Sgt. Nix.

Job well done.

Ronnie Leet

Selma