*Please note: The exact date of this photograph is unknown.
Rustin and Randolph are present at the culmination of the Selma to Montgomery Marches, joining fellow movement leaders and supporters on the steps of the Alabama State Capitol to bear witness to speeches demanding full voting rights for African Americans. Their participation at this moment signified solidarity, strategic leadership, and the unwavering commitment required to challenge entrenched oppression in the Deep South.
In March 1965, the Selma to Montgomery Marches ended at the Alabama State Capitol, marking a turning point in the national campaign for voting rights. Rustin’s presence alongside Randolph, the elder statesman of labor and civil rights, signifies the broad coalition and disciplined strategy required to pressure lawmakers during a tense and historic confrontation with Southern segregationists. Their leadership was instrumental in securing the passage of the Voting Rights Act later that year, affirming the power of nonviolent protest and principled advocacy in reshaping U.S. democracy.
“Bayard Rustin.” n.d. National Museum of African American History and Culture. https://nmaahc.si.edu/bayard-rustin.
