National Council of Jewish Women to Lead Jewish Community at 60th Anniversary Commemoration of ‘Bloody Sunday’ in Selma

Diverse Jewish Cohort to March Arm-in-Arm with Civil Rights Leaders, Centering Women and Jews of Color in the Movement

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SELMA, AL – In a powerful act of solidarity and remembrance, National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) will lead a diverse Jewish delegation at the 60th anniversary commemoration of Bloody Sunday and the historic crossing of the Edmund Pettus Bridge. A contingent of 100 Jewish participants — representing a broad coalition of organizations — will join thousands from across the country to honor the legacy of those who risked their lives for voting rights and racial justice.

As the Jewish community stands alongside the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), Drum Major Institute, Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, National Urban League, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, National Action Network, Southern Poverty Law Center, NAACP, LDF, Human Rights Campaign, Common Cause, and other civil rights and faith leaders, NCJW will uplift the values of coalition, allyship, and the responsibility to show up for justice — even in difficult times.

“The story of the civil rights movement is still being written, and as Jews, we must remain active co-authors,” said Sheila Katz, NCJW CEO. “At a time of rising antisemitism, and even as many Jews have felt others have not shown up for us, we remain steadfast in our commitment to show up as allies. Solidarity is not conditional; it is essential. Marching in Selma reminds us that justice is collective, and our liberation is bound together.”

For the first time in history, a Jewish women’s organization is leading the Jewish community’s contingent, and for the first time, Jews of Color are at the forefront of this delegation — a testament to the ongoing fight for inclusion within both the Jewish and broader civil rights movements.

The host committee for this historic gathering includes:

• Monique Faison Ross, NCJW board member, Jewish women of color, author, and advocate
• Heather Booth, civil rights activist, organizer, and founder of the Jane Collective
• Stacey Hadar Epstein, co-president of NCJW Atlanta and leader in the Atlanta Jewish community
• Rachel Faulkner, NCJW’s senior director of program and event engagement, a Black Jewish woman who played the lead staff role in organizing this experience

Guiding the group’s spiritual reflection and educational journey are:

• Rabbi Sandra Lawson, a Black Reconstructionist rabbi serving as Rabbi-in-Residence
• Kohenet Dr. Harriette Wimms, a Black Kohenet and founder/ED of the Jews of Color Misphacha Project who will facilitate the Jews of Color cohort
• Margaret Norman, director of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) of the Birmingham Jewish Federation

“The struggle for justice is long, but we don’t walk it alone,” said Rabbi Sandra Lawson “As a Black Jewish woman, I march to honor the footsteps of those who came before me and to ensure future generations see themselves in the ongoing fight for civil rights.”

“Our presence in Selma is not just about memory — it’s about action,” added Heather Booth. “The same forces that stood in the way of justice 60 years ago are at work today, attacking voting rights, racial equity, and democracy itself. NCJW plays such an important role in the fight for civil rights and we march together now because the fight is not over.”

“For too long, the historic images of Jewish solidarity in the civil rights movement have centered men,” said Monique Faison Ross “This year, for the first time, a Jewish women’s organization is leading the Jewish community contingent, and for the first time, Jews of Color are at the forefront. As we march in Selma, we reflect the full diversity of those who have always been part of this movement, especially the women whose leadership has too often gone unrecognized.”

“As Jews of Color, we stand at a critical intersection — holding the pain and resilience of both of our communities,” said Kohenet Dr. Harriette Wimms. “We march because the fight for voting rights is not history — it is now. We are here to ensure our voices are heard, our stories are told, and our people are seen.”

NCJW’s delegation is joined by co-sponsoring organizations, including: ALEPH Alliance, Bend the Arc, Eshel, Institute of Southern Jewish Life, Jewish Council for Public Affairs, Jewish Labor Committee, Jewish Women’s Archive, Keshet, The Kirva Institute, Mishkan Chicago, The Rabbinical Assembly, Reconstructing Judaism, Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, The Shalom Center, T’ruah, Women of Reform Judaism, The Workers Circle, and Zioness. 

Participants include former AJWS CEO Ruth Messinger, Zioness CEO Amanda Berman, Safety Respect Equity Network CEO Rachel Gildiner, and more. Participants range from high school students to those in their 80s. 

Rabbi Jonah Pesner, who led the Jewish contingency through the Reform movement at a previous Selma anniversary shared, “The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism is proud to co-sponsor this commemoration with NCJW and to see the Jewish community once again standing arm in arm with our civil rights partners in Selma. Our tradition compels us to show up for justice, and I’m grateful we are continuing the legacy of those who marched before us.”

As part of the weekend which includes Shabbat dinner in Birmingham, a Havdalah service, and a meetup and prayer at the historic Selma synagogue before marching, the group will hear from a variety of coalition partners and leaders including Representative Terri Sewell who represents Selma, Alabama. 

Representative Terri Sewell (D-AL) shared, “I am thrilled to welcome the National Council of Jewish Women and their diverse delegation to my hometown of Selma, Alabama for this historic commemoration! The fight for equal rights is deeply woven into the fabric of our city, and the Jewish community has long been a critical partner in that struggle. As we gather to remember the past and rededicate ourselves to a more just future, we are grateful to stand in solidarity with our Jewish partners in the ongoing work of freedom and justice for all.”

As NCJW and its partners take this historic step forward — marching arm in arm with Black leaders, interfaith allies, and civil rights leaders — we reaffirm the Jewish commitment to democracy, racial justice, and the enduring power of coalition-building, just as those who marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge risked everything in the fight for voting rights. Their struggle reminds us that justice is never won alone — it requires solidarity, courage, and the unwavering pursuit of a more just and equitable society.

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NCJW is a 131 Jewish feminist civil rights organization working for equity and justice for women, children, and families in the United States and Israel. Through the efforts of our 225,000 grassroots advocates and 48 local sections, NCJW combines education, direct service, and advocacy to affect lasting social change at the local, state, and national levels. Learn more at NCJW.org, and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.