Protest in Selma and Montgomery backs voting rights amid Alabama map changes

Thousands of people gathered in Alabama on Saturday, beginning in Selma and traveling to Montgomery, in a coordinated rally aimed at protecting voting rights and ensuring Black political representation. The event, held at the Alabama Capitol and other historic sites, came amid renewed scrutiny of congressional maps and the impact of recent Supreme Court decisions that have narrowed parts of the Voting Rights Act. It took place about six months before the midterm elections, when several new congressional districts are set to take effect.

Organizers, including Black Voters Matter and other advocacy groups, described the demonstration as a response to changes in voting rules and districting decisions that, they said, could reshape political power beyond the South. Bernice King, Martin Luther King Jr.’s daughter, posted ahead of the protest that it was “a time to protect our power, defend democracy, and keep moving forward together.”

The rally began in Selma, where a violent clash in 1965 between law enforcement and voting rights activists helped galvanize national support for the Voting Rights Act. Organizers then moved the crowd to Montgomery, a city closely tied to the civil...