Thousands Expected at 50th Anniversary of March of Washington
Photo: USA Today
Today commemorates the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington.
The historical civil rights demonstration, led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is hailed as the most successful peaceful protest in American history.
Thousands will gather to celebrate the event on Capitol Hill this morning.
The march along a 1.6-mile route downtown will pass several buildings with significance for the civil-rights era, including the Justice Department, U.S. Courthouse, Department of Labor and Washington Monument. The procession, to be led by a restored 1960s-era bus like that used by civil-rights activists the Freedom Riders, is expected to draw upward of 100,000 participants. The original march, which demanded jobs and equal rights for blacks, drew about 250,000.
The route ends about midday at the Lincoln Memorial, where President Barack Obama will speak while standing in the same spot on the memorial steps where Rev. King gave his “I Have a Dream” speech, a stirring vision of equality, exactly five decades ago. Mr. Obama will cap two hours of official speeches between 1 and 3 p.m.
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Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, the only surviving speaker from the original 1963 march, is also expected to speak at the event.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has an undeniable legacy that continues to live on til this day.
A wonderful man who deserves to be remembered.
Thoughts on the legacy on the March on Washington?
Since then, how close are we to Dr. King’s dream?
Sound off below!
