Civil rights activist Martin Luther King fought for the rights of African Americans and many others. Today’s generation knows these things, but only from what they’ve been told and taught. For those who’ve lived through that era, it’s different. “Selma,” a movie that just recently came out, gives them a chance to experience this history. “Selma” was based on one of King’s successful missions that happened at Selma, Alabama, in 1965.

During this mission King, along with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, fought for African Americans’ right to vote. King protested a number of times and as a peaceful protester didn’t fight back when marching. So when the troops beat and killed these innocent people, there was nothing the marcher’s could do and as a result a young man named Jimmy Lee Jackson’s life was taken.

King’s second attempt of marching was his plan to walk from Selma to Washington, D.C. However, President Lyndon Johnson found it inadvisable because Alabama was a very prejudiced state. Sure enough, once King and the SCLC got to the bridge, the troops of Alabama were already standing there. The troops, loaded with batons, whips and tear gas, immediately charged at the marchers Many African Americans were either beaten or killed.

King’s third attempt to walk from Selma to Washington, D.C. included a crowd where one-third was made up of Caucasians. When the troops saw the amount of Caucasians intertwined with the SCLC, they backed down, but King led the group back to Selma in fear of it being a trap.

The fourth time, King had it legally done. He sent his request to the Supreme Court. As a result, the judge granted them five days to march from Selma to Washington. Not long after the march, the president  permitted African Americans the right to vote.

Even though race relations have progressed, there may still be work to be done. Recent events can be compared to the injustices of the 1960s. Most are familiar with the Ferguson, Missouri, shooting, where 28-year-old police officer Darren Wilson shot and killed an unarmed 18-year-old, Michael Brown. A grand jury decided not to indict Wilson.

There is always more than one side of a story. There are many unanswered questions. Wilson claimed he had to kill Brown because Brown grabbed his gun. On the other hand, many claimed to have seen Brown with his hands up when Brown was shot 12 time,s and Brown was found in a pool of his own blood. Nobody is to blame for Brown’s death according to the grand jury. Even though there have been improvements, injustice still persists. There’s still work to be done.