First African Baptist Church Hosts Tuscaloosa Bloody Tuesday Remembrance

First African Baptist Church will host its “Remembering Tuscaloosa’s Bloody Tuesday” commemorative event on Sunday, June 7, at 2 p.m. The commemoration is open to the public and will honor the individuals who fought for equality during one of Tuscaloosa’s most significant Civil Rights moments.

Reverend Lukas Agyei Mjumbe, Executive Director of the Alabama African American Civil Rights Heritage Site Consortium, will be featured as the guest speaker.

The program will reflect on the events of June 9, 1964, when more than 500 peaceful African American marchers protesting segregated public facilities were violently attacked by law enforcement officers, deputized citizens, and white mobs outside the First African Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa.

The church became the center of violence as tear gas was fired inside, stained glass windows were shattered, and demonstrators were beaten and arrested.

Organizers say the event will honor the courage of the Bloody Tuesday marchers while educating the community about the local civil rights fight that helped shape Tuscaloosa's history.

“It is always important to commemorate the Anniversary of this horrendous day in the history of Tuscaloosa. The goals are to publicize and elevate the event and especially the Civil Rights Movement led by T. Y. Rogers, many other religious leaders, the Tuscaloosa Citizens for Action Committee (T.C.A.C.), and many others,” said the press release.

Also, it is important to “recognize those brave foot soldiers who were a part of the unforgettable movement and to raise awareness of the historical ‘Movement and March’ that helped to open closed doors and alter the course of segregation in the city of Tuscaloosa and beyond. This is so urgent today more than ever.”

First African Baptist Church is located at 2621 Stillman Blvd, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401.