in their own words: Why march?
“We are here from St. Louis to demonstrate – to witness – our love for our fellow citizens in Selma. We are here secondly to protest the violation of rights…”
– Sister Ernest Marie
Historian Dr. Carol Coburn, who also served as a consultant for the film, emphasizes the unprecedented nature of the sisters’ involvement in the Selma march, noting that “Never before had Catholic sisters participated in a national public protest, let alone one that was covered by all the national media.”
So, why, despite the potential risks and societal expectations, did these sisters feel compelled to participate in the Selma march?
For Sister Antona Ebo from the Franciscan Sisters of Mary, it was personal.
When invited by Rev. Anderson to speak, a rousing ovation greeted her appearance and followed her simple statement: “I am a Negro. I am a nun. I voted in St. Louis yesterday, and I am here because I believe that the time has come for all of us to do everything we can to be sure that no qualified American be denied his right to equality, his right to vote.”
Photo courtesy of: Archdiocese of St. Louis Archives
“We went in the mission of love…”
KMOX Radio Interview with Bob Hardy and Two Sisters of St. Joseph
Bob Hardy: Hello everyone. Eleven and a half minutes past 3:00 is our time and it’s time for Sounding Board here on KMOX Radio’s At Your Service Programming. As you know, the local news…for that matter, the national and the World News yesterday told of Saint Louis nuns participating in the March in Selma. We have two of those sisters with us today. They will be here to answer your questions, to chat a little bit about what took place at Selma and what’s expected to take place in the future.
May we introduce 2 nuns from Fontbonne College: Sister Ernest Marie, who is chairman of the Sociology department, Sister Thomas Marguerite, assistant to the president and chairman of the Philosophy department.
Now Sister Ernest Marie, perhaps we’d best start with you if we possibly can. You were the contact at Fontbonne College, were you?
Sr. Ernest Marie: That is right. Father Doyle, who is the executive secretary of the Archdiocesan Commission on Human Rights, called me Tuesday evening and asked if I and another sister would care to join the Saint Louis delegation for Selma leaving early Wednesday morning.
Bob Hardy: Sister Thomas Marguerite, were you drafted or did you volunteer?
Sr. Thomas Marguerite: I was asked if I’d like to go and I said I surely would. I guess that’s a simple case of volunteering under draft.
Bob Hardy: Sister Ernest Marie, why did you go?
Sr. Ernest Marie: We went and in the mission of love, really. And we went down to witness our love for our fellow man in Selma and also to protest the indignity that had been shown our fellow man in Sunday’s brutality shown on the bridge episode on the way to Montgomery City.
Bob Hardy: Why was it necessary for sisters from Saint Louis to go? Why didn’t the local nuns of Selma participate?
Sr. Ernest Marie: The local nuns of Selma may not openly participate in marches. This is the direction of the Archbishop. Undoubtedly it’s for their own safety. Here in Saint Louis, we have a conference of religion and race headed by Paul Hanlon, it’s the official organization of the major interface in Saint Louis.
In discussing the Selma issue, the question was asked them, what are you going to do about the Selma situation? And they answered. We’re going. So this was the contact with the major religious faith and then individuals who are personally interested in interracial justice.
“We are here from St. Louis to demonstrate – to witness – our love for our fellow citizens in Selma. We are here secondly to protest the violation of rights…”
– Sister Ernest Marie
“To me…it was an answer to prayer”
“To me…it was an answer to prayer”