Our deepest condolences to the family, loved ones, and community of JoAnne Bland. 🕊️ The civil rights trailblazer and Selma native passed away on February 19, 2026, at the age of 72.
A lifelong advocate for justice, Bland dedicated her life to the fight for voting rights and equality in Alabama and beyond. She passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, according to her family, who shared that she “departed this life surrounded by love,” leaving behind a legacy rooted in strength, grace, and unwavering service.
JoAnne Bland began her activism as a child, marching in the historic Selma voting rights demonstrations of the 1960s, including Bloody Sunday. By the age of 11, she had already been arrested more than a dozen times for standing up for justice.
She later co-founded the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute and established Foot Soldiers Park to preserve Selma’s civil rights history. Her courage, sacrifice, and leadership helped shape generations of activists and protect the right to vote for millions.
Her legacy will live on through the lives she touched and the history she helped preserve.
Sending prayers and love to her family and all who mourn her loss. 🙏🏽🕊️
