Bill Cosby To Participate In Alabama’s ‘March For Education’ Despite Controversies
Despite going through months of scrutiny for alleged sexual assault cases, veteran comedian Bill Cosby is still determined in advancing his philanthropic work and social activism. Recently, he announced his participation in the upcoming “March for Education” slated this Friday in Alabama.
The march will run across the Edmund Pettus Bridge which is the historical site of the horrific March 7, 1965 protest. The protest was instigated by Civil Rights activists pushing for voting rights. However, they were met with violence as police authorities brutally persecuted those involved. This unfortunate event was covered by the media and became a defining moment in the country’s Civil Rights movement.
A bridge in #Selma is named after a KKK leader. @StudentsUnified wants to change that http://t.co/SwLv2Tkuyj pic.twitter.com/XuXiERuwzp
— Change.org (@Change) May 1, 2015
This year’s “March of Education” will be held in partnership with The Black Belt Community Foundation, a decade-old nonprofit organization which aids residents of the Edmund Pettus Bridge area. While some organizations have already broken ties with Cosby, The Black Belt Community Foundation has expressed that for them, the comedian is an “invaluable resource.”
The organization’s president Felecia Lucky said, “Dr. Cosby’s legacy transcends decades but his dedication to humanity, education and philanthropy is an invaluable resource along with the exposure he can bring to the serious challenges affecting this region of the country.”
Before the March, Cosby will also speak to hundreds of high school students in the cities of Demopolis and Selma. His speech will be a part of the Black Belt’s new campaign for the improvement of education in the south-central part of Alabama. Lucky further commented.
“We are really grateful for the opportunity to shed light on the plight of our children. We’re hoping that people will realize now more than anything is that Black Belt children matter.”
Lucky also talked about why the organization chose Cosby to speak as part of their campaign. She said that it is because of his strong history in advocating for education. Indeed, the comedian and his wife Camille have actively supported various educational causes for many years. The two have donated millions of dollars in gifts to numerous colleges. They also donated a large sum for scholarship grants through their foundation.
Cosby will also appear on television show Good Morning America prior to the march. He will be interviewed by the show’s correspondent Linsey Davis. This appearance is a must-see as this is his first media appearance since his Associated Press interview last November.
[Images via onetrudva4u, Instagram/Spencer Platt, Getty Images]
