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The 33rd Annual Bridge Crossing Jubilee kicks off Thursday to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday and the Voting Rights Movement.

Retired Sen. Hank Sanders said the Jubilee’s four days will be packed with dozens of events, with thousands expected to be in attendance.

On the opening day Thursday, The Voting Rights History Bowl will be from 9-11 a.m. at R.B. Hudson Middle School, 1701 Summerfield Road.

The R.T. Pollard Retreat begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Selma University Gymnasium at 1501 Boynton Street. This retreat will include a panel discussion & keynote address.

But the highlight of the first day is the Old-Fashioned Mass Meeting beginning at 6 p.m. at historic Tabernacle Baptist Church, located at 1431 Broad Street. Tabernacle was the site of the first mass meeting of the Selma voting rights movement in 1963.

The keynote speaker will be African Methodist Episcopal Bishop Vashti McKenzie, President and General Secretary of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA. The Rev. Dr. Ben Chavis, President & CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, will also be speaking at the event.

“We are very excited about Thursday because it is our history bowl and the mass meeting,” said Faya Rose Toure, co-director of the Bridge Crossing Jubilee. “Students throughout the county compete. I bring them a copy of the book, and we give prizes of $500 to the winner. Every child who writes an essay about what they’ve learned, they could win up to $100.”

On Sunday, additional Jubilee speakers and performers were announced. They include:

• Congresswoman Maxine Waters
• Michael Eric Dyson: renowned professor, bestselling author, national media commentator, & Baptist minister
• Asher HaVon: The Voice season 25 winner, Selma native & first Alabama winner
• Rev. Dr. David Peoples, President of the Progressive National Baptist Convention
• Rev. Dr. Willie D. Francois, III, President of the Black Church Center for Justice & Equality
• Coumba Toure Ba, who is coming with a delegation from Senegal, West Africa

The Annual Bridge Crossing  Jubilee is the largest annual civil rights gathering in the United States. The full Selma to Montgomery March is Monday, March 10, through Friday, March 14, ending with a rally at the Alabama State Capitol. More information will be provided as to the full march in the coming days.

Previously announced speakers included House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffies and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.

Friday, on the anniversary of Bloody Sunday, there are a number of events planned. This includes:

• Education Summit: Is Black Achievement Under Attack? 8:30 a.m. at WCCS.    Presenters are Dr. Robert White, Ted Quaint and Delta Hardy.
• Children’s Sojourn/Youth Freedom March over the Pettus Bridge at 10:30 a.m. There will also be conversations with FOOTSOLDIERS of ‘65 & Freedomfest @Memorial Park immediately after Youth March.
• 50 Mile Peace Rally and Walk is also at 10:30 a.m.
• Invisible Giants Conference will be at the Selma High School Auditorium at noon.
• Education Summit Virtual Panel “Is Black Achievement Under Attack?” will be at 1 p.m. Panelists include  Dr. Carol Lee, Dr. Kenneth Wesson, Dr. Adelaide Sanford,  Dr. Patrica Payne, Dr. Ray Winbush and Diana Daniels. For more information, call 317-622-0473, log on to www.HowAreOurChildren.org or email: IndianaCouncilESC@gmail.com
• A Mock Trial will be held at the Dallas County Courthouse  at 4 p.m. The theme is “The author of Project 2025 on trial for treason.”
• There will be a public conversation at the Dallas County Courthouse hosted by the Rev. Mark Thompson, Podcast host and former host of Make It Plain, at 6 p.m.