Sweet Home Alabama!

(We apologize for not posting last night, Apri 2nd. We had difficulty with the internet at the hotel in Montgomery.)

The girls got up at 5 this morning to set out on the road again heading for Montgomery Alabama.As we crossed over the Alabama state line, we blasted "Sweet Home Alabama!" on the radio.

Before our tour, we ate lunch in the parking lot of one of our stops. Where we double dutched.

Today we saw the Capitol Building and saw where the march from Selma to Montgomery ended, the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Bartist Church and visited the Civil Rights Memorial, and the Rosa Parks Museum.

Upon entering the Civil Rights Memorial we were greated by our guide, she explained that we had to be checked through security because the Southern Poverty Law Center has had several threats. Here we learned more about those that have lost their lives fighting for justice and also took a pledge to continue to fight for equality and justice. We also were reminded that only love can drive out hate.

Outside the SPLC is the Civil Rights Memorial Monument. It was designed by Maya Lin, the same designer of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC. The words etched on to the table monument lists events of the Civil Rights Movement in chronological order ending with Dr. King's assassination, with a gap between the beginning and end. This gap was left to symbolizes future people and events that continue to fight for peoples Civil Rights. We were able to touch this monument so you can "feel" the movement. We could also see our reflections in the water, seeing ourselves as fighters for justice

Our last stop on our tour was the Rosa Parks museum. The highlight of this museum was the simulation room where they reenacted the night Rosa Parks would not give up her seat. The movie was played on the windows of a bus. The interesting fact that we learned was that the museum was built right where Rosa Parks was arrested in December 1955

We wrapped up our tours with a wonderful dinner at Olive Garden. The manager there treated us very well! We give them many thanks!

Starlette learned today:
"Prejudiced people are still killing people today. And that makes me feel mad."

Everyone learned today:
this trip is intense and exhausting so we need to extend forgiveness and grace to each other.

"The end is redemption and reconciliation. The aftermath of nonviolence is the creation of the beloved community." ~Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.