today, the president will commemorate the hundreds of people brutally attacked on a bridge in selma 50 years ago during a peaceful protest for racial equality but just this week, a billboard was erected within sight of the historic location in memory of a ku klux klan founder nathan bedford forrest it has prompted outrage in the alabama city as many claim it demonstrates underlying racial tensions that linger half a century after the march the sign, bearing a portrait of forrest on horseback and a confederate flag, stands at the foot of edmund pettus bridge   which is named after a former kkk grand wizard scroll down for video  'despicable!': people have hit out at this poster erected this week by edmund pettus bridge in selma, alabama, where hundreds were attacked on bloody sunday in 1965 it features kkk founder nathan forrest  the sign (pictured, with a local resident) was put up by friends of forrest, which is run by 'wizardess' pat goodwin who refers to the selma march as 'the mother of all orgies' and will not take the sign down  brutal: forrest ran a cotton farm, trafficked slaves in tennessee via his own slave trading business (advert pictured, right), and killed hundreds of blacks during the civil war while letting whites surrender and survive  on the reverse, it reads: 'selmapostheraldcom welcomes president barack obama and you to selma' beneath his image, forrest's rallying cry urging men to frighten their enemies is printed: 'keep the skeer [scare] on 'em!' forrest was the first grand wizard of the kkk soon after the anti black group formed in tennessee in 1866 according to andrew ward, author of the civil war account river run red, forrest was part of an off shoot of the clan that opted for violence when they found black people would not voluntarily return to a state of slavery 'in the spring of 1867,' ward writes, 'forrest and his dragoons launched a campaign of midnight parades; 'ghost' masquerades; and 'whipping' and even 'killing negro voters and white republicans, to scare blacks off voting and running for office'' horrific: police beat scores of people (pictured) who were marching from selma, alabama, to montgomery, the state capital, to protest against their lack of voting rights  commemoration: state troopers were pictures using clubs to beat pro civil rights protesters at the march  march: in this march 21, 1965 file photo, dr martin luther king, foreground row, fifth from right, is seen waving as marchers stream across the alabama river on the first of a 5 day march to the state capitol, montgomery  forrest was one of the richest men in the south before america's civil war he owned a cotton plantation and numerous slaves, trafficked via his own slave trading business in memphis during the war he was hailed as a 'brilliant strategist' for leading 1,600 confederate soldiers to attack fort pillow in tennessee after winning the battle, he selected 200 black soldiers to be slaughtered all white soldiers were allowed to surrender and survive when the war ended, he joined the kkk and became its first leader the tribute was erected by the group friends of forrest, run by 'wizardess' pat goodwin, who refers to the selma march as 'the mother of all orgies,' according to the la times with hours until the bloody sunday commemorations begin in selma, people have taken to social media in outrage at the billboard one twitter user wrote: 'disgusting! take the billboard down immediately' another said: 'that billboard has to come down despicable!' in a statement to the new york daily news, goodwin said: 'that billboard was put there with positive intent to ask people who come to selma to explore and enjoy our 19th century history 'does it say anything in the constitution where a certain faction of people cannot be offended? 'i'm offended by all these people walking around with their pants hanging around their knees' during a speech at at south carolina's benedict college on friday, the president also hinted at what he will speak about on edmund pettus bridge tomorrow, which is the 50th anniversary of the 1965 selma to montgomery march he said the commemoration is as much about stirring young people to change as it is about honoring past legends   and about 'the courage of ordinary people doing extraordinary things' 'selma is not just about commemorating the past, it's about honoring the legends who helped change this country through your actions today, in the here and now,' obama said 'selma is about the courage of ordinary people doing extraordinary things because they believe they can change the country, they can shape our nation's destiny president barack obama (pictured on friday) is going to selma to mark a half century since 'bloody sunday' damning report: 'it turns out they weren't just making it up this was happening,' obama said, making reference to the justice department's damning report on blacks targeted racial bias in the st louis suburb  'selma's about each of us asking ourselves what we can do to make america better and historically, it's been young people like you who help lead that march' he added: 'it was young people who stubbornly insisted on justice', noting that one of the most famous leaders of the selma march   now georgia rep john lewis   was just 23 at the time '[they] stubbornly refused to accept the world as it is that transformed not just the country but transformed the world,' he concluded the visit was obama's first to south carolina as president south dakota and utah are now the only states he has not traveled to while in office in a radio interview broadcast earlier today, obama said improving civil rights and liberties with police is an area that 'requires collective action and mobilization'
this week skeer obama today edmund pettus 1965 billboard of kkk nathan bedford forrest forrest
billboard of kkk founder nathan bedford forrest put up this week  sign stands at the foot of edmund pettus bridge, where hundreds were attacked in 1965 as they peacefully protested for racial equality  it features forrest's rallying cry to frighten foes: 'keep the skeer on em!' outraged people claim it demonstrates unresolved racial tensions  president obama will discuss need to continue fighting for equality today 