Tuscaloosa To Commemorate 58th Anniversary Of 'Bloody Tuesday'

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Tuscaloosa's First African Baptist Church will play host to an event on Sunday, June 5 that will commemorate the 58th anniversary of Bloody Tuesday.

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Bloody Tuesday occurred on June 9, 1964, when upwards of 600 peaceful demonstrators gathered at the church to march in protest of the new county courthouse and its segregated bathrooms and water fountains.

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Demonstrators were met with fire hoses, tear gas and physical violence from police and a club-wielding mob, resulting in 33 people being hospitalized and 94 arrested. Luckily, no one was killed in the chaos.

The church is now one of several stops on the Tuscaloosa Civil Rights Trail and will be the venue for the anniversary event, which will begin at 6 p.m.

Rev. Thaddeus Steele, pastor of Hunter Chapel Baptist Church and reconciliation coordinator for the Tuscaloosa Civil Rights History and Reconciliation Foundation Board, will serve as the keynote speaker.

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