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As the nation reflects on one of the most important events of the Voting Rights Movement, First Baptist Church in Selma is set to host its annual Bloody Sunday Commemoration Service on Sunday, March 9, at 10 a.m.

The event entitled “Justice, Sacrifice, and the Road Ahead!” will commemorate those who marched for voting rights on March 7, 1965.

This year’s keynote speaker will be Alabama State Sen. Kirk Hatcher, D-Montgomery. Fellow State Sen. Robert Stewart, D-Selma, said Hatcher is a dedicated public servant and advocate for civil rights and social justice.

“Sen, Kirk Hatcher is one of our nation’s best orators,” Stewart said. “As a legislator and educator, his advocacy is aligned with the people of Selma who strive for equity and opportunity for all. As a Morehouse man, he shares the same lineage of leadership and collective uplift as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Him being speaker at the Historic First Baptist Church reflects the pride and significance of this occasion, the Selma 60th commemoration. All are in for a treat.”

Hatcher’s speech is expected to touch on the legacy of the Selma to Montgomery march, the ongoing fight for equality and the continual struggle for justice.

The service will take place at First Baptist Church, located at 709 Martin Luther King Street in Selma, a historic site that played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement. The church was a meeting place for activists and a safe haven for those organizing for change.

As crowds gather on the Edmund Pettus Bridge to mark the anniversary, the commemoration service will provide an opportunity for reflection, unity and renewed commitment to the ideals of democracy and equality.

Community members, leaders and activists are encouraged to attend this important event as Selma once again takes center stage in remembering the sacrifices of the past and shaping the future.