Dallas County Voters League facts for kids

The Dallas County Voters League (DCVL) was an important group in Dallas County, Alabama. This county includes the city of Selma. The DCVL worked hard to help African Americans register to vote. They did this during the late 1950s and early 1960s.

What Was the Dallas County Voters League?

The Dallas County Voters League, or DCVL, was first started in the 1920s. A man named Charles J. Adams founded it. He worked for the postal service and was also a civil rights leader. He was the local leader for the NAACP, another important civil rights group. When Mr. Adams moved away, Sam Boynton took over. Sam Boynton was married to Amelia Boynton, who became a very famous civil rights activist.

The "Courageous Eight"

Later, the DCVL was brought back to life by a special group. This group had eight members and was known as the "Courageous Eight." These brave people included:

• Amelia Boynton
• Ulysses S. Blackmon
• James E. Gildersleeve
• Frederick D. Reese
• Rev. John D. Hunter
• Rev. Henry Shannon
• Earnest Doyle
• Marie Foster

These members tried to help black citizens register to vote. However, state and local officials made it very difficult. Groups like the White Citizens' Council and the Ku Klux Klan also tried to stop them. In 1962, Frederick D. Reese became the president of the DCVL.

Working for Voting Rights

SNCC Joins the Fight

In February 1963, Bernard Lafayette came to Selma. He was sent by the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). His wife, Colia Liddel Lafayette, also joined him. They came to help register black voters. Bernard Lafayette met the DCVL members and was very impressed. He suggested that SNCC help fund the DCVL.

"Freedom Day" in Dallas County

By July 1963, SNCC and the DCVL were working together. They organized protests and sit-ins. On October 7, 1963, they held a special event called "Freedom Day." This was one of only two days that month when people could try to register to vote. More than 300 black citizens from Dallas County lined up at the voter registration office. This showed their strong desire to vote.

Facing Continued Challenges

Even after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed, it was still hard for black citizens to register. This law made segregation illegal. But in Dallas County, only about 2.2 percent of African Americans were registered to vote. This was despite all the hard work of the DCVL.

Major Collaborations and Marches

Help from Martin Luther King Jr.

In late 1964, the DCVL got more help. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) joined their efforts. This group was led by the famous civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr.. In 1965, the DCVL worked with both SNCC and SCLC. Together, they organized the historic Selma to Montgomery marches.

Teachers Take a Stand

On January 2, 1965, the SCLC and Martin Luther King Jr. started the Selma Voting Rights Campaign. Frederick Reese, who was a schoolteacher and president of the DCVL, convinced other teachers to join. They tried to register to vote in a large group on January 22. They tried three times to go up the steps of the county courthouse. Each time, they were pushed back. This was a very important moment. Before this, mostly workers and students had tried to register. This was the first time many educated black citizens tried to register together.

The Tragic "Bloody Sunday"

The first march from Selma to Montgomery happened on March 7, 1965. This day became known as Bloody Sunday. SCLC member James Bevel helped start it. Amelia Boynton and others organized the march. When the marchers crossed the bridge, they were attacked. County sheriff Jim Clark's deputies and Alabama State Troopers beat them. Amelia Boynton was beaten and left unconscious in the street. A picture of her lying there was seen by many people. This image helped show the world how badly the marchers were treated. It made many people angry and brought more support to the movement.

Other Important Members

Other important members of the DCVL included Annie Lee Cooper, Louis Lloyd Anderson (who was a pastor), and J. L. Chestnut. James E. Gildersleeve also served as president of the DCVL.