Beyond the Bridge Freedom Fest held on Saturday

Vendors and community members lined Washington Street and Alabama Avenue on Saturday for the first Beyond the Bridge Freedom Fest 2021.

Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT Selma) hosted its first Beyond the Bridge Freedom Fest celebrating the signing of the Voting Rights Act Of 1965.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965, was signed into law August 6, 1965 to prevent legal barriers at state and local levels that formally prevented African Americans from exercising their 15th Amendment right to vote.

Lydia Chatmon, event organizer and co-director of TRHT Selma, said Freedom Fest was well received by the community.

“We have gotten really positive feedback and we are super excited to have some of our newer businesses here,” she said.

Chatmon said even the location of the event holds significance in the fight for voting rights.

“Alabama Ave. is one of the very streets that the foot soldiers walked on in their trek to Montgomery,” she said. Washington Street here in Selma, Alabama used to be a mecca for black businesses and we’re hoping one day that this Blackbelt district will be wide open with black businesses again.”

Chatmon said the panelists provided important and informative information to the community.

“All of our panelists have put forth excellent commentary on the issues of the day,” she said . “We are very excited to be here in downtown Selma.”

Amongst the prominent speakers was former Alabama State Senator Hank Sanders.

Sanders spoke to the crowed about the importance of voting and not being able to vote until he was in his 20’s due to racial discrimination. He also spoke on remembering the march from Selma to Montgomery and how we still have some ways to go for voting rights.

“It’s 56 years later and we are still fighting for the right to vote,”he said. 

It is the organization's hope that this becomes annual event.