Rep. John Lewis Tweets Dramatic Recounting of Selma March

Congressman John Lewis was one of the many civil rights leaders who marched in Selma, Alabama 50 years ago today, and throughout the day, he has tweeted a dramatic recounting of the March and the horror of Bloody Sunday. Here are all of Lewis' tweets thus far: 50 yrs ago today, we set out to march from Selma to Montgomery to dramatize to the nation that people of color were denied the right to vote— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) March 7, 2015 Before we left a little church called Brown Chapel AME, we knelt and joined together in prayer. #Selma50 pic.twitter.com/lNuu8VU6bg— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) March 7, 2015 About 600 of us left Brown Chapel AME to walk in an orderly, peaceful, nonviolent fashion. #Selma50— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) March 7, 2015 When we got to the apex of the bridge, down below we saw a sea of blue... #Selma50 pic.twitter.com/pI8rIB9K0f— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) March 7, 2015 ... Alabama State Troopers #Selma50 pic.twitter.com/BuPxSRAOOx— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) March 7, 2015 When we came within hearing distance, a trooper identified himself and said, "I'm Major John Cloud of the Alabama State Troopers" #Selma50— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) March 7, 2015 He said, "This is an unlawful march. It will not be allowed to continue." #Selma50 pic.twitter.com/pW46cdL5zn— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) March 7, 2015 "I'll give you three minutes to disperse and return to your homes or to your church." #Selma50 pic.twitter.com/83ccHA99ef— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) March 7, 2015 The man walking beside me - co-leader of the march Hosea Williams - said "Major, give us a moment to kneel and pray." pic.twitter.com/3fvecGNnq3— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) March 7, 2015 The Major paused for a minute and then he said, "Troopers advance!" And you saw these men putting on their gas masks. pic.twitter.com/NDAkngX9kE— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) March 7, 2015 They came toward us beating us with nightsticks, bullwhips, trampling us with horses, releasing the teargas. #Selma50 pic.twitter.com/s9Ey2ZavZA— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) March 7, 2015 I was hit in the head by a state trooper with a nightstick. My legs went out from under me. #Selma50 pic.twitter.com/AOhJkaUvjz— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) March 7, 2015 I thought I saw death. I thought I was going to die. #Selma50 pic.twitter.com/AhM8ujpsYi— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) March 7, 2015 I had a concussion there at the bridge, and I've never been able to recall how we made it back. #Selma50 pic.twitter.com/AsB909DlgX— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) March 7, 2015 Lewis is in Selma today to commemorate the anniversary and spoke at the Edmund Pettus Bridge about the progress America has made in the past half-century. -- -- Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac