02/21/2026
JoAnne Bland (July 29, 1953 – February 19, 2026) was a pioneering American civil rights activist, author, and educator from Selma, Alabama. As a child, she participated in the 1965 "Bloody Sunday" march and became the youngest person jailed during that era's demonstrations. She later co-founded the National Voting Rights Museum and founded Foot Soldiers Park.
Bland passed away on February 19, 2026, at age 72, having spent her life dedicated to voting rights advocacy.
