Montgomery in Montgomery County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Thousands Protest at the Seat of Government

Dexter Avenue

— Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail —

Thousands Protest at the Seat of Government Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, December 5, 2015

1. Thousands Protest at the Seat of Government Marker

Inscription. On Thursday, March 25, 1965, the Selma to Montgomery marchers left St. Jude and continued through the streets of Montgomery, the crowd swelling in numbers as they approached Court Square. By the time they reached Dexter Avenue, a crowd of more than 25,000 arrived at the steps of the Alabama State Capitol.

Standing in the shadow of the seat of government, Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. faced the tired yet jubilant marchers and delivered his now iconic speech, "How Long, Not Long."

After delivering the speech and as millions watched throughout the world, King and the marchers approached the entrance to the state capitol with a petition for Governor Wallace. A line of state troopers blocked the door, declaring the governor was not in. The marchers stood firm until one of Wallace's secretaries appeared and took the petition.

Following the march in Montgomery, President Lyndon B. Johnson pushed for lasting civil rights change in Washington D.C through the passing of the Voting Rights Act. Signed into law August 6, 1965, it prohibited most of the practices used to prevent blacks from registering to vote, and provided for federal registrars to go to Alabama and other states with a history of voting-related discrimination to ensure that the law was implemented.

Erected

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2015 by the City of Montgomery. (Marker Number 11.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Government & Politics. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #36 Lyndon B. Johnson series list. A significant historical date for this entry is March 25, 1965.

Location. 32° 22.654′ N, 86° 18.087′ W. Marker is in Montgomery, Alabama, in Montgomery County. It is at the intersection of Dexter Avenue and South Bainbridge Street, on the right when traveling east on Dexter Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 600 Dexter Avenue, Montgomery AL 36104, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Alabama’s Tri-Counties River Region.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Black Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Black Members of the Alabama Legislature Who Served During The Reconstruction Period of 1868-1879 (within shouting distance of this marker); United States Flag Raised Over Alabama Capitol (within shouting distance of this marker); Selma-to-Montgomery March (within shouting distance of this marker); Populism / 1901 Constitution (within shouting distance of this marker); Segregation / Civil Rights (within shouting distance of this marker); Rural Life / Agricultural Economy (within shouting distance of this marker); Great Depression / New Deal

Martin Luther King, Jr. image. Click for full size.

Public Domain - Dick DeMarsico, World Telegram staff photographer

2. Martin Luther King, Jr.

United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs division

(within shouting distance of this marker); World War II / Defense Economy (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Montgomery.

Another marker is no longer nearby. A Nation Divided / Cradle of the Confederacy (was a few steps from this marker but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . . Wikipedia article on the Selma to Montgomery March. (Submitted on December 7, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

The civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965 image. Click for full size.

Public Domain - Peter Pettus - Library of Congress, 1965

3. The civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965

View of marker looking towards State Capitol. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, December 5, 2015

4. View of marker looking towards State Capitol.

Thousands Protest at the Capitol image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, December 11, 2015

5. Thousands Protest at the Capitol

Photo of large cloth sign from West Jeff Davis Avenue.

View east on Dexter Avenue towards Capitol during march. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, December 11, 2015

6. View east on Dexter Avenue towards Capitol during march.

Photo of large photo mural near Loveless School on West Jeff Davis Avenue.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 9, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 7, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 953 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 7, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 5, 6. submitted on December 11, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.