Leaving Selma

The darkest hour of the Civil Rights movement became its greatest victory. After passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, white America -- and President Lyndon Johnson -- had moved on to other issues. But in many places, the new law was simply ignored. Martin Luther King, Jr., realized it would be necessary to replace racist public officials, especially in the South, where blacks still were being prevented from registering to vote. Unable to gain support from the White House for the Voting Rights Act, Dr. King brought the movement to the small, especially vicious town of Selma, Alabama and made history. This documentary, told by one of Dr. King's closest aides, is profusely illustrated with archival photographs and footage, as well as new interviews with unsung heroes of the Selma movement. Updated for 2014, it originally was released in 2011 and was an influence on the upcoming Paramount motion picture "Selma."