John Suttles
A Civil Rights Foot Soldier Who Made History with Courage and Dedication to Voting Rights
John Suttles’ Early Life in the 1960s
John Suttles grew up in the heart of the Civil Rights Movement in Selma, Alabama. As a young boy, his days were filled with the simple joys of childhood—playing with friends and building things. But his life took a sharp turn in the early 1960s, as the struggle for racial equality in the South reached its boiling point.
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At just 12 years old, Suttles attended a mass meeting that would forever change the course of his life. He listened intently to speeches about justice and equality, and when he heard Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speak, he knew he had to act. I was in—it to win it, so to speak, Suttles recalled. His involvement in the Civil Rights Movement became a defining part of his youth.
A natural diplomat in his family, Suttles embraced a non-violent approach to advocacy. He and a group of young activists strategized on how to uplift their community and drive change. By the age of 16, Suttles found himself at the forefront of a historic fight for voting rights that would shape the nation’s future.
The Selma ‘Bloody Sunday’ March
The year was 1965, and the battle for voting rights was intensifying. On March 7, 16-year-old John Suttles joined 600 peaceful marchers as they set out to walk from Selma to Montgomery. This first attempt, later known as Bloody Sunday, was in response to the tragic killing of Jimmie Lee Jackson, a young activist who had been shot by police during a protest the month before.
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As Suttles and the other marchers reached the Edmund Pettus Bridge, they were met by a line of state troopers armed and ready for confrontation. Suttles described the eerie calm before the violence broke out. Everything around us just stopped moving. The air stopped moving. Everything got quiet, he said. The silence was shattered as troopers attacked the unarmed marchers with clubs and tear gas.
Suttles was among those brutally beaten that day. His blood soaked the army jacket his uncle had given him before the march—a jacket now displayed at a national interpretive center. Despite the violence and hospitalizations, Suttles’ resolve remained unbroken.
In the weeks that followed, two more attempts were made to complete the 54-mile trek to Montgomery. The second, dubbed Turnaround Tuesday, also faced challenges, though Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. joined the marchers in solidarity. Finally, on the third attempt, an estimated 25,000 people successfully completed the journey, paving the way for monumental change.
Suttles’ courage and determination, along with that of thousands of others, caught the attention of President Lyndon B. Johnson. Their sacrifice directly influenced the passage of the Voting Rights Act later that year, a landmark piece of legislation that outlawed discriminatory voting practices.
John Suttles and the Civil Rights Movement
John Suttles’ story is a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made during the Civil Rights Movement. The Selma marches, particularly the events of Bloody Sunday, became a turning point in the fight for racial equality in America. Suttles and his fellow marchers’ bravery helped secure the Voting Rights Act of 1965, ensuring greater access to the ballot box for millions of Americans.
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Now in his 70s, Suttles continues to reflect on the events that shaped his life and the country. His story stands as a testament to the power of collective action and the importance of standing up for justice. The legacy of the Selma marches lives on, reminding us that the fight for equality is far from over and remains relevant to this day.
National Voting Rights Museum & Institute
After President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act on August 6, 1965, nearly 7,000 African Americans registered to vote in Dallas County, Alabama, resulting in the election defeat of the segregationist sheriff who led the Bloody Sunday attack on marchers. This museum displays items and stories relating to the voting rights campaign including the very bloodstained jacket that John Suttles wore during the Selma “Bloody Sunday” march. Hear firsthand accounts of these events from volunteer guides as they share memories of the struggle to gain the right to vote.
Join us in honoring John Suttles and the countless others who risked everything for the right to vote. Explore the history of the Civil Rights Movement, support initiatives that protect voting rights, and share John Suttles’ incredible story with the next generation. Together, we can continue the work they began and strive for a more equitable future.