An event to commemorate the many aspects of the American Civil Rights Movement took place at the Tyler History Center.

Along with Sojourn to the Past, they brought a woman to the Mahoning Valley who started fighting for her rights at just 11-years-old.

It's an incredible story, as we celebrate Black History Month.

March 7, 1965. Better known as Bloody Sunday in American History.

State Troopers on horses and other law enforcement used nightsticks and tear gas to attack African-American marchers and their supporters who crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama.

11-year-old Jo-Ann Bland, who is now 66 years old and still living in Alabama, tells 21 News, "I was terrified. I had never experienced violence."

What was intended to be a peaceful march was part of the voting rights struggles to attract media attention to the issue. Those fighting for their rights and equality also wanted to attract media attention to the death of a young man who was shot and killed by police trying to protect his mother during the civil rights movement. Eighty people were injured when they were attacked when they tried to cross the bridge.

"I fainted from the terror. My sister was brutally beaten and wound up with stitches in her head. Like 35 stitches. And she saw me, them carrying me across the bridge, and she thought I was dead," Bland said.

A second March known as Turn Around Tuesday included Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior. The third march, the "Successful One," they called it -- succeeded in making it to the state capital of Montgomery, Alabama.

"Just shy of six months later, August 6th, 1965, the Voting Rights Act was signed, and it removed those obstacles that prevented us from voting. And it's been under attack ever since," Bland said.

But Bland says it's a slap in the face when those who can vote don't take the time.

However, she's disappointed that voting rights didn't turn out to give African-Americans all the rights she believes they deserve.

"Voting was supposed to be the change that was supposed to be the equalizer, and it didn't equalize. We're far from that," Bland tells 21 News.

Bland believes what could make the difference is if people come out in full-force to cast their votes each election.