Meeting of Biden and Harris with the King Family on the March on Washington’s 60th Anniversary

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On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are scheduled to meet with the organizers of the 1963 event and family members of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. The latter delivered the iconic “I Have a Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial.

Six decades post the meeting between President John F. Kennedy and King at the White House on the morning of Aug. 28, 1963, the current Oval Office meeting has been arranged. All of King’s children have been invited to engage with President Biden, as confirmed by White House officials.

Moreover, President Biden is set to address a White House reception later on Monday, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. This nonpartisan, nonprofit legal entity was founded upon Kennedy’s direction to champion racial justice.

Although the schedules have yet to be formally revealed, two White House officials provided details regarding the Democratic president and vice president’s plans, under the condition of anonymity.

The 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom continues to be a significant milestone in the U.S. struggle for racial justice. The peaceful demonstration, which drew up to 250,000 individuals to the Lincoln Memorial, fueled Congress to enact historic civil rights and voting rights legislation in the subsequent years. Tragically, King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee in April 1968.

In Washington, Black civil rights leaders along with a diverse, interfaith coalition will commemorate six decades since the inaugural march. Meanwhile, President Biden will return to Washington on Saturday after spending a vacation week with his family in California’s Lake Tahoe region.

The present celebration occurs at a challenging time in American history, marked by the decline of voting rights, the Supreme Court’s recent rulings against affirmative action and abortion rights, and escalating threats of violence and hatred towards minority groups.

White House authorities state that Biden and Harris, who aim to be reelected in 2024, are vigorously promoting King’s vision of equal opportunity. Being the first Black vice president, Harris has been vocal regarding attempts by certain groups to distort Black history, while Biden has taken executive actions to foster racial justice, equality, and voting access.

Biden has also honored Emmett Till with a national monument and focused on economic policies benefitting Black Americans, including low unemployment rates.

The administration highlights his appointment of numerous Black women to federal courts, such as Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman on the nation’s supreme bench.

Additional efforts include nearly $7 billion in support for historically Black colleges and universities and initiatives to alleviate billions of dollars in student loan debt.

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