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Edmund Pettus Bridge

Definition

A bridge in Selma, Alabama that became a landmark symbol of the struggle for civil rights in America. It was the site of "Bloody Sunday," where peaceful protesters marching for voting rights were brutally attacked by law enforcement officers.

Analogy

Think of Edmund Pettus Bridge as a difficult level in a video game that you must pass through to reach your goal. Just like overcoming this challenging level signifies progress in your game, crossing this bridge represented progress towards equality during the Civil Rights Movement.

Related terms

George Wallace: The Governor of Alabama during the Civil Rights Movement who supported segregation policies and ordered state troopers to stop the march across Edmund Pettus Bridge.

John Lewis: A key figure in the Civil Rights Movement and one of the leaders who led protesters across Edmund Pettus Bridge on Bloody Sunday. He later served as a U.S Congressman from Georgia until his death in 2020.

Voter Suppression: Strategies used to influence election outcomes by discouraging or preventing specific groups from voting. The events at Edmund Pettus Bridge were part of broader efforts against voter suppression.