–Jerria Martin, president of Student Government and a native of Selma, heads south to speak about her fellow alumnus James Reeb, killed in first march from Selma to Montgomery–

 February 22, 2013, Princeton, NJ–On Sunday, March 3 when people from around the nation gather in Selma, Alabama, to reenact the 1965 crossing of the Edmund Pettus Bridge, Jerria Martin, a senior at Princeton Theological Seminary and president of Student Government, will be among them.

The first bridge crossing began the march from Selma to Montgomery that led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act. The day became known as Bloody Sunday for those killed when the marchers were violently attacked by civilian assailants. Among those killed was Princeton Seminary alumnus James Reeb, a Unitarian minister who graduated from the Seminary in 1953.

Martin, one of the planners of the event and a native of Selma, will speak about Reeb on the steps of the capitol building in Montgomery. “James Reeb answered God’s call with his life,” she said. “I heard my own calling to ministry when I was 18 years old and on the stage as queen of the 2007 Bridge Crossing Jubilee. I answered that call by vowing to live a life of service. Since that day I have participated in and served on the planning committee for every march.”

“I am honored to be representing Princeton Seminary, and honoring James Reeb, at this year’s march, where we will retrace the footsteps of courageous men and women of the past in the cause of justice. We have crossed many bridges in our country, but there are more to cross as we unite to work on issues of education, immigration, and gun violence,” Martin said.

The Jubilee events begin on February 28 and continue through March 8 when marchers will arrive in Montgomery for a rally on the steps of the state capitol building. In addition to Martin, speakers will include Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and more.

For more information, contact the Communications/Publications Office, Jerria Martin, or the Office of Multicultural Relations.  

Princeton Theological Seminary was founded in 1812, the first seminary established by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. It is the largest Presbyterian Seminary in the country, with more than 500 students in six graduate degree programs.