Anticipated Gathering of Tens of Thousands Marks 60th Anniversary of the March on Washington

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Martin Luther King III, accompanied by his wife Arndrea Waters King and their 15-year-old daughter Yolanda, maintain specific customs each August. They review the seminal 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom speech delivered by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Despite their unique connection to the civil rights leader’s legacy, the family regards these anniversaries as educational opportunities.

“As with any family, our aim is to educate our daughter about this pivotal moment in history,” Arndrea mentioned. “Furthermore, we endeavor to link it to current events and individuals making a difference today.”

This year, the King family will be among a projected assembly of tens of thousands congregating this Saturday at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., to honor the 60th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” oration.

The event is organized by the Drum Major Institute, founded by the Kings, and the National Action Network. An array of African American civil rights activists and a diverse, interfaith coalition will inspire participants at the same location where a crowd of up to 250,000 convened in 1963. The original march remains one of the most impactful racial justice and equality events in U.S. history.

On the eve of the event, Martin Luther King III and his sister, Bernice King, each visited their father’s memorial in Washington. “I see a figure who remains authoritative, insisting that we must still get it right,” stated Bernice as she gazed at the statue of her father.

The 1963 march, with their father as a focal point, paved the way for the adoption of groundbreaking civil rights and voting rights laws in the 1960s. The organizers of the 60th-anniversary commemoration aim to reignite the original event’s momentum, particularly in light of recent erosions in voting rights, affirmative action, abortion rights, and a rising tide of discrimination and violence.

Martin Luther King III, in an interview with The Big Big News, mentioned, “This is more than a mere commemoration; it is essentially a recommitment.”

Saturday’s event commences with preliminary speeches and performances at 8:00 a.m. ET. The main program kicks off at 11 a.m. ET, followed by a procession leading to the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial.

Prominent speakers include Ambassador Andrew Young, a key adviser to King who later became a congressman, U.N. ambassador, and mayor of Atlanta. Top figures from the NAACP and the National Urban League will also address the audience.

Leaders involved in organizing the march consulted with U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke about pressing issues like voting rights, law enforcement, and redlining. This gathering precedes the actual anniversary on August 28, 1963, which President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will recognize on Monday by meeting with the organizers of the original event.

Rev. Al Sharpton, founder of the National Action Network, emphasized that the continuation of the March on Washington anniversaries is a pledge he made to Coretta Scott King, the late matriarch of the King family. “We’re fulfilling Mrs. King’s directive. We must continue to move forward and not regress,” Sharpton stated.

Sharpton revealed future plans for a voting rights campaign and collaborations with Black entrepreneurs to combat conservative onslaughts against diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Bernice King, CEO of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center For Nonviolent Social Change, expressed her empathy for those tired of the ongoing struggle to maintain civil rights. “Freedom is a perpetual endeavor, won anew by each generation. Despite current challenges, a new dawn is approaching,” she said.

Her father’s 1963 speech has echoed through decades, punctuated by both progress and setbacks in civil and human rights. Tragic events, such as the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, and the murders of civil rights workers, ultimately led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Bernice King stressed that younger generations should recognize the accomplishments and understand that every step forward counts. “Acknowledging small victories is crucial; otherwise, we risk undermining our own progress,” she concluded.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about 60th-anniversary March on Washington

More about 60th-anniversary March on Washington

• March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom: Original 1963 Event
• Drum Major Institute: Official Website
• National Action Network: About Us
• The Lincoln Memorial: National Park Service
• Civil Rights Act of 1964: Overview
• Voting Rights Act of 1965: History
• NAACP: Official Website
• National Urban League: Official Website
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Center For Nonviolent Social Change: Official Website
• Supreme Court Decisions on Voting Rights: Recent Cases
• Attorney General Merrick Garland: Official Profile
• The Associated Press: Democracy Initiative
• President Joe Biden: White House Official Page
• Vice President Kamala Harris: White House Official Page