Alabama voting‑rights rally draws thousands in Montgomery and Selma

Thousands of demonstrators gathered on May 16, 2026 in Montgomery, Alabama, and earlier in Selma, to protest recent congressional redistricting maps and a controversial U.S. Supreme Court decision. The protests were part of the “All Roads Lead to the South” National Day of Action, echoing the historic 1965 Selma‑Montgomery marches that led to the Voting Rights Act.

Congresswoman Terri Sewell, a Democrat from West Alabama, headlined the Montgomery rally, calling the event “All Roads Lead to the South” and urging participants to oppose what organizers describe as an attempt to disenfranchise Black voters and other minorities. Activists arrived by chartered buses from across Alabama and the broader South, assembling at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma before moving to the State Capitol in Montgomery. Organizers said the rallies aim to pressure state legislators and signal continued resistance to redistricting efforts.

The protests featured prayers, speeches, and calls for a national response to recent court rulings, with participants pledging that “we will not go back.” Organizers anticipate further actions beyond this initial day.