Born: 10 April 1924, United States
Died: 11 November 2017
Country most active: United States
Also known as: Elizabeth Louise Ebo
The following is republished from the Library of Congress. This piece falls under under public domain, as copyright does not apply to “any work of the U.S. Government” where “a work prepared by an officer or employee of the U.S. Government as part of that person’s official duties” (See, 17 U.S.C. §§ 101, 105).
Sister Antona Ebo, F.S.M.
In 1965, after Alabama state troopers attacked voting rights marchers on what became known as “Bloody Sunday,” Sister Antona Ebo and other nuns from the Franciscan Sisters of Mary traveled to Selma and joined the march to Montgomery when it resumed two weeks later.
They decided to put the sisters in the front. Rev. Davis Anderson was speaking for the group. Mayor Joseph Smitherman said, “You have not been given a permit for this demonstration, and so you should not be here in the street.” I’m looking at all these guys with their billy clubs and dogs and the fire hoses behind them. Rev. Anderson is responding, “You do know we have a right to walk on these streets. And we just brought a few of our friends from St. Louis to walk with us.” Then the reverend says, “The first person to speak will be Sister Antona Ebo from St. Louis. Sister, come over here and speak.” Honey, I walk over there, and all I said is what I’d been saying: “I’m here to defend the rights of all the citizens of Selma.”