Today, civil rights leaders, advocates, preservationists and the congregation of Brown Chapel AME Church gathered to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, reflecting on the pivotal Selma to Montgomery march that motivated the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Hosted by Brown Chapel AME Church and the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund (Action Fund) at the National Trust for Historic Preservation (National Trust), the day’s events included a powerful commemorative worship service featuring a major announcement from the Action Fund pledging $1 million toward the preservation of Brown Chapel AME Church and keynote remarks from Bryan Stevenson, founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative.

At a Sunday morning press conference Brent Leggs, executive director of the Action Fund and Reverend Leodis Strong, pastor of Brown Chapel AME Church, addressed the urgent need to restore Brown Chapel AME, a National Historic Landmark, which has been closed since 2020 due to structural deterioration.

“Brown Chapel AME is more than a church—it is a sacred space of resistance and resilience, and a landmark of the ongoing fight for our democracy,” said Brent Leggs, executive director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund and senior vice president at the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “This $1 million grant is an investment not only in bricks and mortar but in the legacy of those who fought for justice. We are committed to ensuring that Brown Chapel remains a place of activism and inspiration for generations to come.”

Reverend Leodis Strong, pastor of Brown Chapel AME Church emphasized the importance of community and national support to complete the church’s restoration, noting that despite this significant commitment from the Action Fund, an additional $500,000 is still needed to fully restore Brown Chapel AME.

“As we honor the courage of those who marched 60 years ago, we must also take action to protect the physical spaces that tell their story,” said Rev. Strong. “This church was a cornerstone of the Civil Rights Movement, and today, we call on partners and the public to help us close the funding gap and secure its future.”

The Sunday morning service, part of the Selma Jubilee weekend, served as a moment of remembrance and a rallying cry for ongoing civil rights advocacy. The Action Fund, Brown Chapel AME Church, and their partners remain steadfast in their mission to preserve this critical landmark and ensure it continues to serve as a symbol of justice and equality.

For media inquiries, additional information, or to support the Brown Chapel AME preservation effort, please contact Roberto J. Hylton at roberto@merakicommsgroup.com.

-###-

The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, is deeply committed to preserving and protecting places that illuminate stories of Black activism, achievement, culture, and resilience. In partnership with Lilly Endowment Inc., and the Ford, Mellon, and JPB foundations, and backed by more than $150 million in funding, the Action Fund stands as the largest U.S. resource dedicated to the preservation of African American historic places.

To learn more about our mission to tell the full American story, visit us www.savingplaces.org/actionfund.