Selma in Dallas County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
In Honor of James Joseph Reeb
1927-1965
— “This Good Man” —
Photographed By Tim & Renda Carr, November 6, 2010
1. In Honor of James Joseph Reeb Marker
Inscription.
In Honor of James Joseph Reeb. Rev. James J. Reeb, an Army Veteran and Unitarian minister from Casper, Wyoming, was working in Boston when Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. appealed for clergymen of all faiths to come to Selma to protest the violence that occurred at the Edmund Pettus Bridge on March 7, 1965, “Bloody Sunday.” Reeb responded by flying south for the protest march in Selma on March 9. A few hours after the march, Reeb and two fellow ministers were attacked while walking along Washington Street near the Silver Moon Café and across from the C. and C. Novelty Company. The attack left Reeb with a severe head injury, and he was rushed to a Birmingham Hospital where he died two days later, March 11. He left a wife and four children. “The life of this good man that was lost,” announced President Lyndon B. Johnson, “must strengthen the determination of each of us to bring full and equal and exact justice to all of our people.” The National outcry over Reeb’s death helped bring about the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Rev. James J. Reeb, an Army Veteran and Unitarian minister from Casper, Wyoming, was working in Boston when Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. appealed for clergymen of all faiths to come to Selma to protest the violence that occurred at the Edmund Pettus Bridge on March 7, 1965, “Bloody Sunday.” Reeb responded by flying south for the protest march in Selma on March 9. A few hours after the march, Reeb and two fellow ministers were attacked while walking along Washington Street near the Silver Moon Café and across from the C. & C. Novelty Company. The attack left Reeb with a severe head injury, and he was rushed to a Birmingham Hospital where he died two days later, March 11. He left a wife and four children. “The life of this good man that was lost,” announced President Lyndon B. Johnson, “must strengthen the determination of each of us to bring full and equal and exact justice to all of our people.” The National outcry over Reeb’s death helped bring about the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Civil Rights. In addition, it is included in the Unitarian Universalism (UUism) series list. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1797.
Location. 32° 24.522′ N, 87°
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0.84′ W. Marker is in Selma, Alabama, in Dallas County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Martin Luther King Street and Water Avenue. Marker located on the front grounds of the Old Depot Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4 Martin Luther King Street, Selma AL 36703, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. These are additional markers that mention or are about Rev. James Reeb
Also see . . . James Reeb. Encyclopedia of Alabama entry (Submitted on November 8, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama.)
Additional keywords. Unitarian Universalism
Photographed By Tim & Renda Carr, November 6, 2010
2. In Honor of James Joseph Reeb Marker
Photographed By Tim & Renda Carr, November 6, 2010
3. In Honor of James Joseph Reeb Marker Front Left Of The Old Depot Museum
Photographed By Tim & Renda Carr, November 6, 2010
4. Image of James Joseph Reeb
Photographed By Mark Hilton, May 28, 2023
5. In Honor of James Joseph Reeb Marker is to left of this monument.
Photographed By Unitarian Universalist Community of Casper, unknown
6. James Joseph Reeb
Credits. This page was last revised on May 28, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 7, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,794 times since then and 87 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on November 7, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 8, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. 5. submitted on May 28, 2023, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 6. submitted on October 5, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.