The population of the small historic town of Selma, Alabama swells once a year as people from around the nation flock to its downtown, its churches before finally gathering for the crescendo event -- walking across the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

Hundreds of people rallied at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, to mark 60 years since " Bloody Sunday ," when authorities beat peaceful protesters who were marching against race discrimination in voting.