BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) —  In downtown Baton Rouge, one of the state's oldest Black churches is calling the community to action. Wesley United Methodist Church, which has served the Baton Rouge area for 158 years, hosted its "Souls to the Polls" event, commemorating the 59th anniversary of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The church, a cornerstone of the community with deep ties to the civil rights movement, used the occasion to remind residents of the ongoing fight for voting rights and the importance of civic engagement. "The changes in our community are not something distant from us, it is something that affects us in many, many personal ways. We just need to be aware of them," said Dr. J.C. Richardson. The event aimed to inspire older and younger generations to remain engaged in the political process, especially when access to voting remains a concern for many.  "You have a role to not only be subject to these things going on but you have a role to play in making sure that maybe the next generation can not encounter the same struggles that you're encountering and not feel the same way that you're feeling," Richardson said.  The church used the event to call attention to the sacrifices made by civil rights leaders. Leaders emphasized that the fight for equality is ongoing and encouraged community members to take their voices to the polls. Bistro Byronz Mid-City location reopens as Brasserie Byronz, serves French-American cuisine and cocktails “Voting throughout history has been a means by which we can change our situation both individually and collectively,” Richardson said. As election season approaches, Wesley United Methodist Church continues to serve as a place of worship and a platform for community activism and social change. Latest News Baton Rouge church hosts voting event for 59th anniversary of Voting Rights Act Gold Star Family Day honors fallen heroes in Baton Rouge 3 California firefighters hurt in crash while heading to help Hurricane Helene victims Louisiana weather: NHC watching for potential tropical development in Caribbean next week; Atlantic remains active Chastain passes Truex on late restart to win NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway