Revitalizing Selma after the Tornado

This past weekend we gathered with civil rights leaders from around the country [Black Voters Matter logo]( Hi Friend, Selma Recap This past weekend we gathered with civil rights leaders from around the country in Selma to commemorate Bloody Sunday, the Selma to Montgomery March, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. While we honored the sacrifices made by the civil rights activists who came before us and the progress made since 1965, we also felt it was important to use our time together to call on President Biden and other leaders to take action now on some of the barriers Black people are still facing in this country on issues like voting rights, reparations, and healthcare.   While in Selma, we spent some time visiting with residents who are still recovering from the devastating tornado that struck in January, many of whom are struggling to rebuild their lives and to address the everyday racial and economic divisions they are seeing in the community. As we commemorate Bloody Sunday, we must also work towards revitalizing communities like Selma, as we work to tear down walls of separation. We hope Biden's presence at the Bridge Crossing Jubilee brought the visibility needed to this community and will garner increased support for their road to recovery.  As we continue to demand progress and hold our leaders accountable in Selma, we need your support. [Contribute today to help us help Selma residents rebuild from January's devastating tornado.]( [DONATE NOW](   Represents Women's 2023 Democracy Solutions Summit Tomorrow evening, April England-Albright, Black Voters Matter's National Legal Director will be speaking at the virtual Represents Women Democracy Solutions Summit. She will be discussing the Fair Representation Act and the importance of ranked choice voting. Click below to register for the event. [REGISTER NOW](   Join Us For The National Day of Action Against Police Terror Rally Tomorrow at 6pm we will be gathering with our partners for a National Day of Action against police terror ✊🏾! Right now, the Atlanta Police Foundation and City Council are planning to spend $90 million to build a mock city for militarized urban warfare. This new training facility designed for law enforcement will include things like bomb detonations, tear gas deployment, and gunfire ranges. The development of this facility will also destroy 100 acres of forest land that is crucial in absorbing water and has the potential to significantly impact predominantly Black neighborhoods that already face flooding issues and pollution. We must hold our leaders accountable and demand progress towards a more just and equitable society.  Join us and Community Movement Builders on March 9th at 6pm ET to say #StopCopCity.   Lowndes County and the Road to Black Power In Lowndes County, Alabama, the passing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 represented not only the culmination of the Civil Rights Movement, but the beginning of a new, crucial chapter. In the 60s, Lowndes County was a rural, impoverished county with a vicious history of racist terrorism. At the time, 80% of the population was Black but Black people were not allowed to participate in the local election process. Join us for a film screening of “Lowndes County and the Road to Black Power,” to learn more about this compelling movement and young Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) organizers who fought not just for voting rights, but for Black Power in Lowndes County. [REGISTER NOW](   Celebrating Women’s History Month This Women’s History Month, we will be highlighting historical figures who have played a significant role in the advancement of women’s rights. This week, we are honoring Toni Morrison.  Toni Morrison was a literary giant whose masterful storytelling elevated the voices of Black women and exposed the complexities of the African American experience. Through her works like "Beloved" and "The Bluest Eye," she broke new ground and helped shape our modern-day Black cultural landscape, earning numerous accolades and the Nobel Prize in Literature. Toni Morrison's extraordinary talent as a writer and her tireless advocacy for representation and social justice continue to inspire generations of women, reminding us of the power of our stories and the importance of telling them. As Women's History Month continues, we also celebrate the life and work of Zora Neale Hurston, a pioneering author and anthropologist whose storytelling has left an indelible mark on American literature and Black cultural history. In the 1920s and 1930s, Hurston became a central figure in the Harlem Renaissance, a period of artistic and intellectual growth in the African American community. Her first novel, "Jonah's Gourd Vine," was published in 1934, and was followed by a string of critically acclaimed works including "Their Eyes Were Watching God," "Mules and Men," and "Tell My Horse." Throughout her life, Hurston was a fearless and unapologetic storyteller, using her writing to challenge stereotypes and amplify the voices of marginalized communities. She paved the way for generations of Black writers and artists, and her influence can still be seen in literature and popular culture today.   Volunteer Opportunities The fight continues for African American Studies to be a staple in our educational institutions! Join us for our next postcard party on Thursday, March 16th at 6pm ET where we will talk about what we can do now and how we can encourage others to join the fight to protect our history. Click below to register! [REGISTER NOW](   JOIN THE MOVEMENT [Support voter engagement and capacity-building through our 501c3]( [Support voter mobilization and political advocacy through our 501c4]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Tumblr]( [Black Voters Matter logo]( Black Voters Matter Fund is dedicated to expanding Black voter engagement and increasing progressive power through movement-building and engagement. Working with grassroots organizations, specifically in key states in the South, BVMF seeks to increase voter registration and turnout, advocate for policies to expand voting rights/access, and help develop infrastructure where little or none exists to support a power-building movement that keeps Black voters and their issues at the forefront of our election process. For more information, please visit our [website](. Sent via [ActionNetwork.org](. To update your email address, change your name or address, or to stop receiving emails from Black Voters Matter Fund, please [click here](.