National Park Service Selma-to-Montgomery march set to begin

Editor's Note: Albert Cesare and Kelsey Davis, Two Montgomery Advertiser journalists, are embedding with those marching from Selma to Mongtomery and camping each night at Lowndes Interpretive Center. They will provide daily coverage in print, online and through social media platforms.

The National Park Service will kick off its Selma-to-Montgomery march this evening at the Lowndes Interpretive Center at 8 p.m. with a talk from Stan Austin, the regional director of National Park Services and James Walker, the mayor of White Hall.

Roughly 300 people coming from 26 different states went through the application process to take part in the march. Each day they will walk on average 10 miles, then return to Lowndes Interpretive Center to camp. The public can join the march, but will need to be self sufficient. No meals or rides back to Lowndes Interpretive Center will be provided.

While the Selma-to-Montgomery march that took place two weeks ago primarily served the purpose of advocating for voter's rights, this march is meant to be a historical commemoration and walking classroom. The march will include stops at historical landmarks and talks from civil rights leaders. Dr. Bernard Lafayette, who is credited with helping ignite the civil rights movement in the early 60s, will speak at Lowndes Interpretive Center at 7 p.m. Sunday. The event is open to the public.