HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF JO ANN BLAND

HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF JO ANN BLAND

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 41 (Wednesday, March 4, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 4, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E184-E185] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF JO ANN BLAND ______ HON. TERRI A. SEWELL of alabama in the house of representatives Wednesday, March 4, 2026 Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of Ms. Jo Ann Bland, who passed away on February 19, 2026, at the age of 72. Jo Ann was born on July 29, 1953, in Selma, Alabama, to the late Alfred Charles Blackmon and Ludie Wright Blackmon. True to her Selma roots, Jo Ann dedicated her life to the struggle for civil rights and voting rights. As an active member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, she joined The Movement at a remarkably young age, and at just 11 years old, she was one of the youngest participants in the 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery. Despite the violence she witnessed on Bloody Sunday, her courage did not end on the Edmund Pettus Bridge. By the time she reached her early teens, Jo Ann had been arrested at least 13 times for participating in civil rights demonstrations, guided by her fearless and unwavering resolve for justice. That same resolve extended into the classroom where Jo Ann, alongside six other courageous students, integrated Selma's A.G. Parrish High School, opening doors of opportunity for countless children to follow in her footsteps. After graduating, she attended the College of Staten Island in New York and proudly served in the United States Army. After being discharged from the Army, Jo Ann returned to Alabama, where she sought to educate others on Selma's role in the Civil Rights Movement. In 1989, she co-founded the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute, and in 2007, she founded Journeys for the Soul, a tour agency dedicated to teaching visitors from around the world the true history of the Civil Rights Movement in Selma. In 2001, alongside Kimberly Smitherman, Jo Ann began purchasing parcels of land adjacent to the site where civil rights and voting rights activists gathered on Bloody Sunday. Through their combined efforts, the land was developed into Foot Soldiers Park, which stands as a memorial to the countless everyday people who marched, bled, and even died in pursuit of civil and voting rights for all, ensuring that their legacy would continue to inspire future generations. Jo Ann is preceded in death by her parents, Alfred Charles Blackman and Ludie Wright Blackmon; her grandmother, Sylvia Johnson; her sisters, Jackie Maxey and Lynda Lowery; and her brother, Al Blackmon. She is survived by her son, Antonio Bowie, Sr.; her granddaughter, Jasmyn Bowie; her grandsons, Antonio Bowie, Jr., Samuel Bowie, and Jordan Bowie; her surviving sisters, Sadie Moss, Mary Myles, and Mary Hudson; her special sister, Frances Bowie; her special daughter, Kimberly Smitherman; her special son, Demetrius Callens; her special granddaughters, Ja'kira Simmons and Charmekia Moore; her special nephew, Tony Blackmon; her special grandchildren, James Henderson and Samuel Flagg; her special great-grandchild, Jaxston Boyd; her goddaughter, Randy (Renee) Garrett; her god-granddaughters, Riley, Raven, and Ruby Garnett; her god great-granddaughter, Ziporah Rene' Stroud; her sister-in-law, Beverly Blackmon; her special friends, Queen Ramsey and Tracy Arnold; the dedicated staff and volunteers of Foot Soldiers Park, who became family and carried her vision alongside her; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members, and lifelong friends. On a personal note, I am forever grateful for the sacrifices made by Jo Ann Bland in the name of equality and justice. I know that I get to walk the halls of Congress as Alabama's first Black congresswoman because of her courage, resilience, and dedication. Her life is a testament to the power of ordinary Americans to achieve extraordinary social change, and her contributions to the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Movements serve as an inspiration for future generations. In 2024, it was a privilege to bring Jo Ann as my special guest to President Biden's State of the Union Address, and upon her passing, I was honored to pay tribute to her on the floor of the House of Representatives. I will miss her wisdom and friendship. On behalf of Alabama's 7th Congressional District, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the extraordinary life and legacy of Ms. Jo Ann Bland for her contributions to the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Movements and her decades of exemplary service to our nation in our fight for liberty, equality, and justice for all. May she Rest in Power. [[Page E185]] ____________________