john hewlett became the first african-american sheriff in lowndes county alabama. lowndes county was arguably the toughest county in alabama in terms of its resistance to civil rights. it was the county that the selma montgomery -- took place in lowndes county. selma is in dallas county in the next 50 miles of the march was through lowndes county before you go to montgomery and montgomery county. at the time that the march started through lowndes county in 1965 there were no african-american voters in lowndes county at all. 80% of the population was lack and there were no african-americans register to vote. john hewlett became one of the first two african-american people in lowndes county to register and it was 1965 before that happened. there was violence in lowndes county. larusso the detroit housewife became down for the march was murdered in lowndes county. a little bit after that jonathan daniels and wide episcopal priest who is supporting the movement in lowndes county was murdered in lowndes county. so it was a rough place and that was john hewlett's home. he