Reel

Compilation Tape of speeches made by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. SELMA, ALABAMA AND THE MARCH TO MONTGOMERY, 1965. Also contains much great footage of the civil rights movement.

Excerpt of Universal newsreel regarding first march on Selma, AL. EST shots of Brown Chapel, AME Church in Selma.

MS of Rev. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. giving speech in church, saying that "I m here to tell you tonight, that the businessmen, the mayor of this city, the police commissioner of this city, and everybody in the white power structure of this city must take a responsibility for everything that Jim Clark does in this city. (Standing ovation, applause) "It s time for us to say to these men, that if you don t do something about it, we will have no alternative but to engage in broader and more drastic forms of civil disobedience in order to bring the attention of the nation of this whole issue in Selma, Alabama."

MCU of MLK speaking about the murder of a white pro-civil rights minister from Boston. "He was murdered by the irresponsibility of every politician from governors on down, who have fed his constituents a stale bread of hatred and the spoiled meat of racism. He was murdered by the timidity of a federal government that can spend millions dollars a day to keep troops in South Vietnam and cannot protect the lives of their own citizens seeking the right to vote."

Footage of first march on Selma, Alabama, March 7, 1965, aka Bloody Sunday : EST shot Edmund Pettus Bridge; TLSs police officers on horseback; TLSs protesters; MSs police officers in gas masks, riot gear, holding billy clubs; a police officer orders the marchers to disperse; demonstrators are ordered to stop, that "this march will not continue"; cops rush in, push back demonstrators at the beginning of the line; chaos ensues, the cops running roughshod over the peaceful demonstrators who are knocked to the ground, gassed, sprayed with fire hoses, beaten with batons. Violence. Civil rights.

FO/FI on MCU of Rev. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. speaks in reaction to the violence at the march: "We have no alternative but to keep moving with determination. We've gone to far now to turn back. And in a real sense we are moving and we cannot afford to stop because Alabama and because our nation has a date with destiny."

March on Selma, Alabama, March 21, 1965: MS of Rev. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR, "We re going to walk non-violently and peacefully, to let the nation and the world know, we are tired now. We ve lived with slavery and segregation 345 years. We ve waited a long time for freedom. We re trying to remind the nation of the urgency of the moment. Now is the time to make real promises of democracy. Now is the time." MSs of marchers picking up sleeping bags, belongings, beginning march; whites and blacks march arm in arm.

VO of Universal newsreel announcer talking about two prior attempts which failed b/c state troops forced marchers back, but now, under a federal court injunction they are able to march under federal protection; shots of marchers crossing Edmund Pettus Bridge;

Excerpts from Martin Luther King, Jr speech "Our God is Marching On" March 25, 1965. Shot of Alabama Ave. street sign; aerial of thousands marching; CU "military police" sign on jeep; King leads march; Montgomery road sign; more aerials; shot of folk singer JOAN BAEZ marching; CUs of MLK speaking, . "Last Sunday, more than eight thousand of us started on a mighty walk from Selma, Alabama." edit "They told us we wouldn t get here. And there were those who said that we would get here only over their dead bodies, (Well. Yes, sir. Talk) but all the world today knows that we are here and we are standing before the forces of power in the state of Alabama saying, 'We ain t goin let nobody turn us around.'" [Applause] edit "Today I want to tell the city of Selma, (Tell them, Doctor) today I want to say to the state of Alabama, (Yes, sir) today I want to say to the people of America and the nations of the world, that we are not about to turn around. (Yes, sir) We are on the move now. (Yes, sir) Yes, we are on the move and no wave of racism can stop us. (Yes, sir)" eidt "The burning of our churches will not deter us. (Yes, sir) The bombing of our homes will not dissuade us. (Yes, sir)" edit "The beating and killing of our clergymen and young people will not divert us." edit "The wanton release of their known murderers would not discourage us." edit "Like an idea whose time has come, (Yes, sir) not even the marching of mighty armies can halt us. (Yes, sir) We are moving to the land of freedom. (Yes, sir)" edit "I know you are asking today, 'How long will it take?' (Speak, sir) Somebody s asking, 'How long will prejudice blind the visions of men...'" edit "I come to say to you this afternoon, however difficult the moment, (Yes, sir) however frustrating the hour, it will not be long, (No sir) because "truth crushed to earth will rise again." (Yes, sir) How long? Not long, (Yes, sir) because "no lie can live forever." (Yes, sir) How long? Not long, (All right. How long) because "you shall reap what you sow." (Yes, sir) How long? (How long?) Not long: (Not long) Truth forever on the scaffold, (Speak) Wrong forever on the throne, (Yes, sir) Yet that scaffold sways the future, (Yes, sir) And, behind the dim unknown, Standeth God within the shadow, Keeping watch above his own. How long? Not long, because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice. (Yes, sir) How long? Not long, (Not long) because: Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord; (Yes, sir) He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; (Yes) He has loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword; (Yes, sir) His truth is marching on. (Yes, sir) He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat; (Speak, sir) He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat. (That s right) O, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! Be jubilant my feet! Our God is marching on. (Yeah) Glory, hallelujah! (Yes, sir) Glory, hallelujah! (All right) Glory, hallelujah! Glory, hallelujah! His truth is marching on." [Applause]