By John Zippert, Co-Publisher

On Sunday afternoon there was a commemoration of “Bloody Tuesday” at the First African Baptist Church in downtown Tuscaloosa. The same church, where 500 Black protestors were gathered on June 9, 1964, to follow pastor, Rev. T. Y. Rogers, in a non-violent march to the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse, to protest the segregated facilities including separate bathrooms and water fountains, in the county’s central public building.
The marchers were turned back by local law enforcement and deputized local segregationists. The marchers were then beaten and tear-gassed in the church, which also sustained significant physical damage. It was the greatest assault on a Black church during the 1960’s Civil Rights Movement. More people were assaulted and injured than in the attack on marchers on “Bloody Sunday”, eight months later in Selma, Alabama.
Bloody Tuesday was a turning point in the civil rights movement in Tuscaloosa. Rev. T. Y. Rogers, a native of Sumter County and an assistant to Dr. Martin Luther King, continued to organize and rally people to desegregate facilities and services in Tuscaloosa, which was home to the University of Alabama and the state headquarters of the Klu Klux Klan, at that time.
Dr. Ramsey O’Daniel, current Chairperson of the Tuscaloosa Bloody Tuesday Committee gave a welcome to the 200 people assembled for the commemoration. The Bloody Sunday Mass Choir sang enthusiastically throughout the program.
Ulysses Lavender, Bloody Tuesday Committee leader gave the occasion for the program. He stressed the theme of “Celebrating a Turning Point and Where do we go from here”. He praised the people who came to the church to march and protest. He said only a small number, mostly young people at the time, are still living. “These footsolders sacrificed for all of us, now we must finish the job they started to reach full equality and justice for all people.”
Dr. John M. Giggie, Professor of History at the University of Alabama, who wrote the book, Bloody Tuesday: The Fight for Civil Rights in Tuscaloosa, published by Oxford University Press in 2024, which is the definitive book on this incident in civil rights history, spoke next on the program. Dr. Giggie is also a member of the Bloody Tuesday Committee and spent ten years researching and interviewing footsolders, in writing his book, which was published last year.
Dr. Giggie reported on his book tour since last year’s 60th celebration of Bloody Tuesday. He said the questions he is most asked at presentations are 1. Why people do not know about ‘Bloody Tuesday’ in Tuscaloosa; 2. Why Dr. King did not return to Tuscaloosa, after Bloody Tuesday, and 3. What can people do and what are people doing to continue the legacy of Bloody Tuesday.
Giggie said that people do not know as much about Bloody Tuesday as they do about Bloody Sunday in Selma because the press coverage was suppressed by local civic leadership and news sources. They said that there was a riot by Black people in Tuscaloosa which was handled locally. The press also shifted its civil rights attention to the 1964 Mississippi Freedom Summer and the murder of 3 civil rights workers – Chaney, Goodwin and Schwerner – in Neshoba County, Miss.
He says based on his studies that Dr. King did not return to Tuscaloosa, after Bloody Tuesday, “Because Tuscaloosa had all that it needed to sustain a movement. It had a trusted leader in Rev. T. Y. Rogers, backed by local religious leaders, courageous footsoldiers and women who were working in fundraising. It also had the support of young people including high school students and Stillman College students. Tuscaloosa had what it needed, Dr. King could turn his attention to other communities.
In answer to the last questions, Giggle said that the Bloody Tuesday Committee has made progress in getting support from Tuscaloosa officials to recognize the lack of accountability by their predecessors. The city has named streets for footsoldiers like Maxie Thomas. It is also building a park to honor Rev. Linton who was a church leader backing Rev. T. Y. Rogers. The committee has also brought footsoldiers and the hidden history of Bloody Sunday to the schools of Tuscaloosa. Dr. Giggie in concluding his remarks said “ Ask the civil rights veteran and footsoldiers how you can help and what you should do now to further the movement in Tuscaloosa.
Two other guest speakers, Rev. Vernon Swift, Pastor of Elizabeth Baptist Church and Rev. David E. Gray, Pastor of Mount Buelah Baptist Church and Director of Whatley Health Services, gave remarks related to the biblical passage concerning God’s transferring the mantle of leadership from Moses to Joshua. They spoke on the importance of people taking the leadership that the footsoldiers gave six decades ago and making the continuing social changes needed in Tuscaloosa today, under the guidance of God.
Ms. Irene Byrd, herself a footsoldier from 1964, recognized the footsoldiers in the audience, who she asked to stand. About a dozen people stood up to be recognized. Ms. Byrd said, “We don’t know the names of all the people who were in the church that day, known and unknown, those who came with shoes and those who were barefoot, those who were fashionably dressed and those who were in raggedy clothes, ready to go to jail.” She thanked everyone for coming and invited all to join the Blood Tuesday Committee. Ms. Ruby Simon also recognized the sponsors of the meeting.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Ransey O’Daniel said there were only a few people left who were in the church on June 9, 2025, but we all must be footsoldiers for the changes needed in our city, state, nation and society going forward.
Persons interested in joining the Bloody Tuesday Committee, can send the yearly $20 membership fee to: Bloody Tuesday Committee, c/o Van-Hoose and Steele Funeral Home, 2615 Stillman Blvd., Tuscaloosa, AL 35401.