Bloody but Unbrokened

   The 50th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday will be commemorated with marches from Civil Rights organizations, politicians, celebrities along with President George Bush, President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle, and their children. That Sunday march is remembered as a pivotal changer in the Civil Rights movement because it helped launch the passing of the Voting Rights Act in 1965. This made it illegal for any jurisdiction to discriminate to citizens on the basis of race when it came to voting. Selma, Alabama's Bloody Sunday was watched in awe around the world because it showed the best and worst of America. Here are the 10 most important lessons that we should never forget from events of that day:

10.  Planning is more important than execution. These trail blazing civil rights leaders did their homework and studied what would be effective to accomplish their goal.

9.   Servant Leadership as displayed by Jesus Christ, Mahatma Gandhi and many others before him was importnat for Dr. Martin Luther King in winning the trust of so many from various walks of life.

8.   Communication was effective in getting the word out to the world as to why people where desperate for their right to vote. The first march attempt had 600 demonstrators, Turn around Tuesday had 2500, and finally the successful third march had 8,000. Media relations were crucial to achieving the goal. 

7.   Non violence as a means of protest displays your intentions of not hurting a system of government but in making it better. We saw this effective in India (Gandhi), United States (King), and in South Africa (Mandela.)

6.    "Face your fears head on!" This was a lesson taught me when I first started my career. Who taught it to me? As a young reporter I interviewed Selma's first African American Mayor, James Perkin's, Jr., and he defeated a White incumbent that had been in office for 36 years. He overcame many death threats and lies on his family to win the seat.

5.    Sir Winston Churchill once said: "Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it!" We must let our future generations know the good, the bad, and the ugly of the events from Bloody Sunday.

4.   Organizations coming together create a strong power structure. A young Congressman John Lewis headed the Student Non Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and Dr. Martin Luther King headed the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and other organizations worked tirelessly to make the march happen.

3.   If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. The march from Selma to Montgomery was not successful the first time due to police brutality on the peaceful demonstrators as they kneeled to pray. The Non-violence movement drew worldwide attention and the third march attempt on March 17 was successful.

2.   Our First Amendment Right allows us the right to peacefully assemble and protest. Even though some municipalities (Recently seen in Ferguson, Missouri) try and discourage this right, it has afforded America to become the powerful, diverse nation it is.

1.   There is power when we come together in unity. Bloody Sunday marchers were from all over the United States and included individuals of all races, ages, denominations and religions.