Please join us to celebrate Ms. Bland. We will hear her words, share photos, tell stories, laugh and probably cry, and then carry her strength with us.

Wednesday, Feb 25, 5 pm PT, on ZOOM

Ms. Joanne Bland, an American hero, a leader in Selma, AL in that town’s nation-leading fight for the right to vote by all Americans, and a Common Power Champion in every sense, passed away Feb 19 morning.

Ms. Bland, 72 years old, was a forever advocate for civil rights, voting, and racial justice. She was arrested 13 times by the time she was 11 for protesting for the right to vote. At that age, she and 600 other African Americans marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge on March 7, 1965 and was teargassed by white Alabama police and citizens. That courageous march and the state’s violent attack became known as “Bloody Sunday,” and it catalyzed the passage of the Voting Rights Act that year.

Since the beginning of Common Power, Ms. Bland has held the position of “CP Champion.” She has taught, catalyzed, challenged, supported, and inspired our staff, our volunteers, our supporters, our partner organizations, and everyone who met her.