Charles Dale heads up a leg of the Journey for Justice March. Dale is a Russellville native and coordinator for the Alabama leg of the march, as well as second vice president of the Tri-County Branch of the state NAACP, which is Lauderdale, Colbert and Franklin counties.

By Alison James

alison.james@fct.wpengine.com

The 50^th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act was Thursday, and passionate proponents are in the midst of a march – Journey for Justice – to make sure the right to vote remains intact and racial issues get the exposure they deserve.

Since Aug. 1, anywhere from 50-300 people have been involved in march that is being completed in chunks, running from Selma to Washington, D.C. – in homage to the 1965 civil rights march.

“It’s been really hot, but things have moved smoothly,” said Charles Dale, Russellville native and coordinator for the Alabama leg of the march. Dale is second vice president of the Tri-County Branch of the state NAACP, which is Lauderdale, Colbert and Franklin counties. “The Alabama state troopers have been superb to us in escorting us on our journey.”

Dale said when the marchers made it to Montgomery Monday afternoon, they held a rally.

“We had numerous speakers; I was one of the speakers,” Dale said. He spoke on “how far we have come from crossing the bridge in ’65 … As an original bridge crosser … I spoke from that standpoint.”

Other speakers included national NAACP president Cornell Brooks, state NAACP president Benard Simelton and a Mrs. Dukes, who was also with Dale in the first march.

“She’s 86, and she marched five miles today, herself,” Dale said.

The group made it as far as Tuskegee yesterday. The route then takes them into Auburn and across the Georgia line.

Housing in Montgomery has been provided by St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Montgomery. “They provided us with sleeping room and meals,” Dale said.

The marchers are expected to reach Washington, D.C., in mid-September.