JoAnne Bland Passed Away!

JoAnne Bland, an iconic Selma civil rights leader has passed away.

A life of service to help the vulnerable and protect the rights of the marginalized.

JoAnne Bland passed away on Thursday. Bland, a Selma native and lifelong civil rights activist, has died. She was 72.

Bland was an American civil rights activist. She was the co-founder and former director of the National Voting Rights Museum in Selma, Alabama.

Bland was a highly active participant in the Civil Rights Movement from her earliest days, and was the youngest person to have been jailed during any civil rights demonstration during that period.

Bland grew up in segregated Selma, Alabama, where she was not allowed to enter certain stores and was only allowed to go in the library and movie theater on days labeled "colored." 

As a result of growing up in segregation Bland lost her mother, who died in a "white" hospital waiting for a transfusion of "black blood."

Her grandmother encouraged Bland and her sister to march and become a freedom fighter to fight for their freedom, even though her father disapproved due to his fear for their lives.

Her father's objections did not stop Bland, who became active in the movement when she was eight years old. When she was eight years old, she attended a meeting with the Dallas County Voters League with her grandmother.

Bland grew up in Selma and became involved in the Civil Rights Movement as a child foot soldier in the 1960s, participating in the historic Selma voting rights marches, including Bloody Sunday.

In a statement released Thursday, Bland's family said that she “departed this life surrounded by love,” leaving behind a legacy marked by “strength, grace and unwavering dedication to her family and community.” Family members asked for privacy as they grieve and plan memorial arrangements.

"By the time I was 11-years-old, I had been arrested at least 13 documented times," she once wrote.

In 1989, she co-founded the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute and later helped establish Foot Soldiers Park, an initiative to preserve and teach the history of Selma and inspire future activists. Bland also led civil rights tours through her organization, Journeys for the Soul, educating visitors about Selma’s pivotal role in the struggle for racial justice.

"I am heartbroken to learn of the passing of Ms. Joanne Bland — a freedom fighter and daughter of Selma, Alabama," said Rep. Terri Sewell. "It was Foot Soldiers like JoAnne who put their lives and freedom on the line for the right of all Americans to vote."

"Today, Selma has lost one of her greatest daughters," said Mayor Johnny Moss III, adding that Bland "carried the spirit of Selma with strength, truth, and unwavering courage."

Bland’s work extended far beyond her hometown as she spoke widely on the importance of voting rights and civic engagement. Her family expressed gratitude for the “outpouring of love, prayers and support” from the community.