community meeting

By Cassandra Mickens

The Selma Times-Journal

Anyone who wants their ideas heard for this year’s Defiant Run now has their chance.

A community meeting for the event will be held on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Carl C. Morgan Convention Center.

A 13 mile half-marathon race and obstacle course winding through the streets of the Selma, the Defiant Run will be held on March 17 and 18. The event is inspired by the 1958 film &8220;The Defiant Ones,&8221;starring Tony Curtis and Sidney Poitier. The film tells the story about two escape convicts &045; one white, one black &045; who learn to work together to avoid capture.

The Defiant Run &8220;links together two competitors of different races at the wrist and seeks to create racial unity by promoting teamwork.&8221;

Frank Hardy, one of organizers for the Defiant Run, said the event is unlike any other in nation and would like to see it grow on a national scale. But first, he needs the community’s input.

The Defiant Run has already achieved statewide recognition.

A crew from Alabama Public Television traveled to the Queen City to film a mock version of the race last month for an upcoming broadcast. APT plans to document the Defiant Run until the day of the race.

For more information on the Defiant Run, call 872-0426 or visit the Web site www.defiantrun.com.