Reading Copy of President Johnson's Statement on Selma
3/13/1965
Add to Favorites:
Add all page(s) of this document to activity:
Add only page 1 to activity:
Add only page 2 to activity:
Add only page 3 to activity:
Add only page 4 to activity:
After meeting with Alabama Governor George Wallace for several hours regarding whether the Federal government would send in troops to protect marchers in Selma, Alabama, President Johnson addressed the press.
In this press statement, he explained that he had "asked the federal court to order the law officials of Alabama not to interfere with American citizens who are peacefully demonstrating for their constitutional rights," and that "when the court has made its order, it must be obeyed."
In this press statement, he explained that he had "asked the federal court to order the law officials of Alabama not to interfere with American citizens who are peacefully demonstrating for their constitutional rights," and that "when the court has made its order, it must be obeyed."
President Johnson also discussed his plan to propose voting rights legislation to Congress. He stated: "We will continue the battle for human dignity. We will apply all the resources of government to the task. We will not be moved from the path of justice."
This primary source comes from the Collection LBJ-WHPRSO: White House Press Office Files.
Full Citation: Reading Copy of Statement; 3/13/1965; March 13, 1965, #38; Backup Material for Presidential Press Conferences, 12/7/1963 - 1/17/1969; Collection LBJ-WHPRSO: White House Press Office Files; Lyndon Baines Johnson Library, Austin, TX. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/lbj-statement-selma, April 25, 2025]Activities that use this document
- The Path of Justice: Selma & the Voting Rights Act
Created by the National Archives Education Team
Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
