mrs. amelia boynton from selma called and said she was coming over.idn't come, she didn't ask for permission. she said we're coming over to see dr. king. and when she got there she told us this story of how sheriff clark had locked down the town. it was against the law for more than two people to walk down the street together. he didn't allow political meetings in the church. and anything involving race, he considered political. mrs. boynton's husband had died. and he was a political lawyer and a political activist and they wouldn't let her have his funeral in a church. he was buried from the middle of the street. the emancipation proclamation ceremony jim clark had said that could not be held in a church. and so that was almost the straw that broke the camel's back. and so that was the beginning of the selma movement. the beating on the bridge on bloody sunday, occurred sunday afternoon, while i think one of the stations was featuring the movie, "judgment at nuremberg. identity and here" and here was the story of hitler's brew at that time. they show

. >> we will now have mrs. amelia bowington to read to you a petition. mrs.ington from selma alabama. [applause] >> " petition to the honorable george c. wallace issued of god citizen of the united states and governor of the state of alabama. we as citizens of alabama citizens of many states in our united states and citizens of several foreign countries, come praying the blessing of god upon you and we, many responsibilities that are yours to discharge. we come petitioning you to join us in spirit and in truth in what is history's and america's movement toward the great society. a nation of justice where none s hall prey upon the weakness of other, a nation of plenty where greed and poverty shall be done away, a nation of brotherhood where success is founded upon service and honor given for nobleness alone. we have coeme to represent the negro citizens of alabama and freedom loving people from all over the united states and the world. we have come not only -- 65 days and 60 miles but we have come from three centuries of suffering and hardship. we have come to

. >> we will now have mrs. amelia bowington to read to you a petition. mrs.

mrs. boynton came over and said that you've got to come and help us in selma. >> that lady was amelia boynton. now 103, living in tuskegee alabama, in a rare conversation with cnn.com, she remembers too. >> i got to the foot of the bridge. there were men on horses. there were police. i was standing up there, and the people started running. he hit me across the -- across my head. and when he did, i fell to the ground. >> witnesses claim the sheriff said "leave her, quote, for the buzzards to eat." >> who were you in 1965? describe that young man that we see in these pictures and what

amelia boynton said it best. when president obama sat down to kiss her, he said to her mrs.oynton, i get to deliver a speech in a few minutes as the president of the united states of america, and it is all because of you. and she looked up at him, i am in tears, she looked up at him and she said "make it a good one." [laughter] [applause] and so i simply say to all of us who are direct beneficiaries every cabinet member that is sitting here, every elected official throughout this nation, every state, local official throughout this nation, every citizen throughout this nation in order to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the selma to montgomery march, we owe it to those bush soldiers -- those foot sholdiers, to make it a duty that we make a good one. [applause] >> to the bishops of the church, outstanding ministers from around the nation and the world to my friend and brother reverend al sharpton, who will deliver to us the morning message. we are indebted to you for your service. you grow, you grow, you grow. i do not want us to take for granted a couple of things. number

mrs. boynton came over and said that you've got to come help us in selma. >> that lady was amelia boyntonving in tuskegee alabama. in a conversation with cnn.com, she remembered that day, too. >> i got to the foot of the bridge there were men on horses. there were police. i was standing up there and the people started running. he hit me across the -- across my head and when he did, i fell to the ground. >> witnesses claim the sheriff said leave her, quote, for the buzzards to eat. reverend young says boynton's role was hugely pivotal. >> who were you in 1965? describe that young man that we see in these pictures and what was it that you envisioned for the future? how did you know that your efforts would promote change? >> i think we didn't know and i often said if i had set on the road from selma, montgomery to dr. king you know martin i'm going to be the mayor of atlanta, or ambassador to the united nations, i want to go to congress he would have said boy, you're sick. you know? sit down. have a cool drink of water. we were really doing something so that our children would have a better

in fact, it was amelia boyington, 105 years old, who was my special guest at the state of the union. as many people passed her in the hall, they would say, mrsyington, we stand on your shoulders. we stand on your shoulders.ho miss boyington looked and up said, get off my shoulders! there's plenty of work to do!so i s so i sayay to you, america, there's plenty of work to do. may we all leave selma more inspired.foot inspired by those foot soldiers to continue their legacy of fighting for equality and justice for all.ing now i have the great honor of introducing someone that i did not know how to address when i first came to congress. do i call him colleague? do i call him congressman lewis? do i dare call him john? he is a civil rights icon and a little black girl from selma stands in his shadow. it is because of you john, that so many of us get to walk the halls of congress.john get to sit in the oval office.e foot it is because of you, john and your bravery and the bravery of those foot soldiers.hat it is because of your bravery and the bravery of those foot soldiers that i get to be lause] alabama's first african-american congresswoman.nou

amelia boynton said it best. when president obama sat down to kiss her, he said to her mrs.oynton, i get to deliver a speech in a few minutes as the president of the united states of america, and it is all because of you. and she looked up at him, i am in tears, she looked up at him and she said "make it a good one." [laughter] [applause] and so i simply say to all of us who are direct beneficiaries every cabinet member that is sitting here, every elected official throughout this nation, every state, local official throughout this nation, every citizen throughout this nation in order to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the selma to montgomery march, we owe it to those bush soldiers -- those foot sholdiers, to make it a duty that we make a good one. [applause] >> to the bishops of the church, outstanding ministers from around the nation and the world to my friend and brother reverend al sharpton, who will deliver to us the morning message. we are indebted to you for your service. you grow, you grow, you grow. i do not want us to take for granted a couple of things. number

mrs. boynton came over and said that you've got to come and help us in selma. >> that lady was amelia boyntonalabama, in a rare conversation with cnn.com, she remembers too. >> i got to the foot of the bridge. there were men on horses. there were police. i was standing up there, and the people started running. he hit me across the -- across my head. and when he did, i fell to the ground. >> witnesses claim the sheriff said "leave her, quote, for the buzzards to eat." >> who were you in 1965? describe that young man that we see in these pictures and what was it that you envisioned for the future? how did you know that your efforts would promote change? >> i think we didn't know. and i often said if i had sat on the road to dr. king you know martin i'm going to be the mayor of atlanta or ambassador of the united nations. i want to go to congress. he would have said "boy, you're sick." you know. sit down have a cool drink of water. we were really doing something so that our children would have a better life. and we never thought -- i'm sure john lewis never thought he would be in congress. in fa