Obama will speak a day before an annual march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge saluting the 600 demonstrators violently assaulted in 1965 . The president is expected to call for healing and reconciliation between those who were hurt by that violence as well as people of all races and religions who have been affected by it. The sojourn will also be made by 95 members of Congress - including 23 Republicans , the largest group from the political party to attend since 1998 .
Obama will speak a day before an annual march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge saluting the 600 demonstrators violently assaulted in 1965 . Alabama state troopers beat demonstrators who participated in the March 7 , 1965 event on what is now known as Bloody Sunday . The sojourn will also be made by 95 members of Congress - including 23 Republicans , the largest group from the political party to attend since 1998 .