Book excerpt: The high point of the 1960s civil rights movement, Selma was a landmark achievement for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, religious activists from all over the country, and the brave citizens of Selma who made it happen. This watershed 1965 direct action campaign resulted in passage of the Voting Rights Act. 'Selma 1965," first published in 1974, is widely recognized as the most vivid and accurate account of the Selma movement for general readers. For this Fiftieth Anniversary Edition, it has been updated with an overview of the continuing struggles for justice and equality for all, both in Selma and across the Unites States. Charles Fager was a junior staff member for Dr. King's Southern Christian leadership Conference in 1965. Since then he has been a reporter, researcher, peace activist, and the author of numerous books. "A fascinating portrait of the most significant campaign of the civil rights movement. Charles Fager's Selma 1965 does more than any book I have read to bring that epoch back to life. The story of Selma is a rich, complex one, with important positive and negative lessons for anyone who cares about the art of political organizing. Fager's carefully-researched, precisely written book tells it with great clarity and power." - Washington Post Book World "One of the most notable studies of a social crisis to appear in recent years . . . .As reported in this temperate and balanced account, the victory was not an easy one." -Christian Century "Through graphic scenes and dramatic narration, Selma 1965, provides a fascinating, unforgettable portrait of the most significant campaign of the civil rights movement....His compelling work keeps Selma, 1965, firmly in our memories, our imaginations, and our hearts." -Stephen B. Oates, author, Let the Trumpet Sound, The Life of Martin Luther King, Jr.