after the events were televised, president johnson issued an order mobilizing the alabama national guard to protect the marchers on their 54 mile (87 km) journey from selma to montgomery, alabama. this second march would start on march 21, 1965 and end on march 25, 1965 at the steps of the state capitol in montgomery, alabama. before the second march even began president johnson went to congress to ask them for a bill that would guarantee voting rights for all citizens and end discrimination at polling places (such as poll taxes and literacy tests).