On this day in 1965,

LBJ Federalizes Alabama National Guard to Protect Selma Voting Rights Marchers

On this day in 1965, President Lyndon Johnson federalized the Alabama National Guard to protect a 54 mile civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery led by Rev. Martin Luther King.  The purpose of the march was to protest the intimidation of black voters which had resulted in almost all of the black voters of Selma not being able to register to vote.  Two other marches had started but ended in violence when police attacked the peaceful marchers with dogs, billy clubs and tear gas, all caught by TV cameras and broadcast on the national news shows.  Five months later Congress passed the Voting Rights Act which guaranteed the right of all citizens to vote.