What sparked the idea of a march from Selma to Montgomery to demand equal voting rights?

The idea of the march from Selma to Montgomery was sparked by the ongoing struggle for voting rights faced by African Americans in the South, particularly after the violent response to protests and the disenfranchisement they experienced. The assassination of civil rights leader Jimmie Lee Jackson in February 1965 during a peaceful protest further galvanized activists. In response, Martin Luther King Jr. and other leaders organized the march to demand equal voting rights, aiming to draw national attention to the injustices and push for legislative change. The march became a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement and ultimately contributed to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.