Beginning in February, 1965, there was a series of marches and demonstrations in several cities in Alabama. On February 18 in Marion, and March 7 and 9 in Selma, unsuccessful marches were turned back violently. On March 21, about 3,200 people began a walk from Selma to Montgomery, protected by federal troops. Along the way, many more joined them, so that by the time they reached the state capitol at Montgomery, there were many thousands, including two RSCJ from Barat College in Lake Forest, Illinois and two from Maryville College in St. Louis, in both cases accompanied by college students. In response to a telegram received three days prior, Manhattanville sent thirteen students: Mary Lou Acker, Anne Blumenaur, Sharon Burns, Janice Dobson, Lisa Fitzgerald, Susan Francis, Jill Hanson, Ann McFeatters, Diane Menagh, Mary Lee Newbold, Carol O’Flynn, Helene Pepe and Thora Purvis. They were met upon their return by Mothers Eleonor O’Byrne and Elizabeth Cavanagh.
The first to go from Maryville already on March 10 was Msgr. James T. Curtin, chaplain and friend of the community. The two RSCJ from Maryville were Mothers Anne Webster, Academic Dean and Patricia Barrett, Professor of Political Science, who said in an interview in the college newspaper The Gong for April 5, 1965: “I went in order to give personal and public witness to my belief in the dignity of man and the unity of the human race. I saw it as an opportunity to demonstrate, as well as declare, my commitment to a social order founded on truth, justice, love and freedom.” The students who accompanied them were: Judith Burns, Pat Cannon, Roxanne Egan, Joanne Muller, Theresa Riley, Kay Schickel, and Kate Soll.
