The historical figure who led the march across the Selma Bridge in 1965 was Martin Luther King Jr. This event, known as the Selma to Montgomery marches, aimed to secure voting rights for African Americans in the South, particularly in Alabama, where systemic racism severely restricted their ability to vote. The march on March 7, known as "Bloody Sunday," was met with violent resistance from law enforcement, capturing national attention and outrage. King’s leadership in this pivotal moment contributed significantly to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a landmark legislation in the fight for civil rights.