Selma marks first Jo Ann Bland Day with mural and community tribute

['Jacob Holmes', 'Bill Britt', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow', 'Class', 'Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus', 'Display Inline', 'Sourceurl Https', 'Www.Alreporter.Com Wp-Content Plugins Co-Authors-Plus Build Blocks Block-Coauthors Style-Index.Css', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Where Img'] Alabama Political Reporter 2026-07-30 00:00:00

The day included a city proclamation, the unveiling of a mural honoring Bland, free tours of historic civil rights sites and the presentation of the inaugural Jo Ann Bland Community Award. The Selma City Council approved a resolution in March establishing July 29—Bland’s birthday—as Jo Ann Bland Day. “I, Mayor Johnny Moss, III, do hereby proclaim July 29, 2026 as Jo Ann Blackmon Bland Day in Selma. “Jo Ann Bland Day is not just a day to say her name. The organization also presented the first Jo Ann Bland Community Award to City Councilwoman Jannie Thomas, who has represented Ward 7 since 2016.