Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/517095
15 centralight spring '15 A sea of people When the bus approached my stop, I saw a sea of people, military men, guardsmen, tents, trucks and cars up and down the main road and in our driveway. Winston met me as I got off the bus and identified me as the daughter of Robert and Mary Gardner. He, along with guardsmen, escorted me home. As I walked toward the house, I saw guardsmen in the yard, at the front door and in the backyard. They were around the perimeter of the property and they were inside the house – they were everywhere. Some of the marchers were standing in the yard, others were sitting on the porch, and some were using the bathroom. The ground was wet – it had rained earlier in the day. Daddy and other farmers in the community donated hay to cover the wet ground. There were two tents, trucks with food and many porta-potties. Among the marchers was a one-legged white man who had walked all the way from Selma. He had worn out his shoe. My uncle took him to Montgomery and bought him a pair of shoes. One of the guards came inside to make a call to the Attorney General's Office in Washington, D.C., to report progress. During that time, we had a three-party telephone line that we shared with two white families. While the guard was talking to the Attorney General, the telephone went dead. In a matter of minutes, the phone line was back on and the two white families' phone lines were temporarily cut off until the marchers left the following morning. My parents had been given the phone number directly to the Attorney General's Office to call at any time if needed. Settling in for the night Around 9 p.m., our neighbors began to go home. At 10 p.m., no one was permitted to come down Caffey Road unless they lived in the area. After the singing, praying and speaking, it was time to bed down – everyone except the troops. When the troops changed guard, they rested in the barn on bales of hay. The marchers were up early the next morning, and I was off to school. On the afternoon of March 24, the marchers reached the city of St. Jude, a complex on the outskirts of Montgomery. When I saw the movie "Selma," it brought back memories. I remembered being afraid for my parents, not so much myself and my siblings, but for my parents. Tension was high. For the next six months or more, helicopters were constantly flying over the house and property. FBI agents were seen parked up and down the road on which we lived. Tensions continued One day, a guard in a helicopter spotted our neighbor, Holmes, whose property adjoined with ours. The guardsman saw Holmes with a rifle that had a telescope on it pointing toward our house. The guard took a picture, landed and asked Holmes what was he doing. Holmes denied any wrongdoing. The guard told Holmes if anything should happen to Robert or his family, he would be the first one they would get. Many people lost their lives while fighting for the right to vote, for respect and for human dignity. It saddens me to hear and read about the low voter turnouts during elections today. What my parents and the other property owners did took courage. They did not know what retaliations might occur as a result of their actions and involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. But it was the right thing to do. Those who participated in the march showed tremendous courage even after what happened on "Bloody Sunday." Reflecting on history As we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery Voters Right March, I celebrated and honored my parents and all the other negroes, whites, Latinos and Asians who stood up and took a stand against discrimination, oppression and intimidation. In the words of Dr. King, "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." There is still much more to do in regard to equality for all races. While the old "Jim Crow" days are gone, discrimination and inequality are still prevalent in our society. I am hopeful that one day the dream of Dr. King will come true – that young black children and young white, yellow, red or brown children will be viewed as Americans and treated equally and respected as individuals contributing to this great country we all call home. • 15 centralight spring '15