52 Strong: USU Civil Rights Pilgrimage

Our last installment of the 52 Strong USU Civil Rights pilgrimage series takes us on the road with iconic civil rights activist Bob Zellner. USU professor Jason Gilmore tells us more about the white man who stood up for the rights of blacks, understanding that it was truly for the rights of all. Although the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s was dedicated to improving the plight of African-Americans in this country, there were many white leaders in the movement who dedicated themselves to the cause. Many would challenge them saying it was not their movement to work for. According to these leaders, however, the movement was not just for African-Americans, but for all Americans. Bob Zellner was one such leader. Zellner is perhaps the most unlikely of civil rights foot soldiers. As a native white Alabamian and a son and grandson of Ku Klux Klan members, Zellner risked literally everything he had when he decided to join the civil rights movement. He would tell you now, some 50

Our next installment of the 52 Strong: USU Civil Rights Pilgrimage series takes us to Selma, Ala. for the fiftieth anniversary of bloody Sunday. USU Professor Jason Gilmore brings us the history of the now infamous march, with research help by Austin White of Bellevue College.

The first installment of “52 Strong” comes to us from a Greyhound bus station in Montgomery, Ala. The series follows USU Professor Jason Gilmore and two of his students as they travel through the South as part of a civil rights pilgrimage. Montgomery, Ala. is contested space. On the one hand, it was considered the cradle of the Confederacy. On the other, the birthplace of the modern civil rights movement. It is the stories of courage and determination of the civil rights movement that drew us here. First Baptist Church in Montgomery, AL welcomed us in as family (and made us put on a concert for their congregations). We are forever in their debt. #usucivilrights #uwpilgrimage #bcpilgrimage A video posted by @usucivilrights on Mar 1, 2015 at 10:56pm PST On the second day of our trip here, we met with Dr. Bernard Lafayette Jr., a civil rights icon and a man who has dedicated his professional life to teaching the principals of non-violent direct action. In 1961, only a short five years

The fiftieth anniversary of the 1965 civil rights march from Selma is coming up next week. Hoping to gain attention for voting rights, peaceful protesters, in the face of violence, walked 54 miles between Selma and Montgomery, Alabama. Utah State University Assistant Professor of Global Communication Jason Gilmore and two of his students, Spanish major Adrian Bustamante and global communication major Miranda Vance, will be traveling by bus to Selma for the anniversary. Along for the trip are 49 other participants, including those from the University of Washington and Bellevue College. Along the way, the group of 52 will be stopping at sites important to the civil rights movement. Gilmore will be sending UPR reports from the road. We begin the series with a conversation with Gilmore about the history of the road trip, and what he hopes to gain from the pilgrimage. UPR will be bringing listeners updates as the group travels throughout the South. You can also keep up with the travelers on