Thousands Gather on National Mall to Commemorate 60th Anniversary of MLK’s March on Washington
WASHINGTON (AP) — Thousands of people gathered on the National Mall on Saturday to mark the 60th anniversary of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic March on Washington. The event, organized by the Kings’ Drum Major Institute and the Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network, aimed to highlight the ongoing racial inequality in the United States and the need to fulfill King’s dream of equality.
While acknowledging the progress made over the past six decades, speakers at the event emphasized that there is still a long way to go. Alphonso David, president and CEO of the Global Black Economic Forum, stated, “Have we reached the mountaintop? Not by a long shot.”
The gathering, held at the same location where as many as 250,000 people gathered in 1963, featured a diverse group of speakers and banners advocating for LGBTQ and Asian American rights. In a stark contrast to the original march, many women were given the opportunity to address the crowd.
Pamela Mays McDonald, who attended the original march as a child, reflected on the progress made in terms of gender representation. “I was 8 years old at the original March and only one woman was allowed to speak – she was from Arkansas where I’m from – now look at how many women are on the podium today,” she said.
However, for some attendees, the differences between the two marches were bittersweet. Marsha Dean Phelts of Amelia Island, Florida, expressed her disappointment at the smaller turnout compared to 60 years ago. “It was more fired up then. But the things we were asking for and needing, we still need them today,” she said.
The event was not without its distractions, as the sounds of passenger planes taking off from Ronald Reagan National Airport and ongoing rugby games provided background noise. Nevertheless, the speakers delivered powerful messages, overshadowed only by the determination of the attendees.
The gathering on Saturday served as a precursor to the actual anniversary of the March on Washington, which took place on August 28, 1963. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are set to meet with organizers of the 1963 gathering on Monday to observe the anniversary. All of King’s children have been invited to meet with Biden as well.
For Rev. Al Sharpton, the founder of the National Action Network, continuing to commemorate the March on Washington anniversaries is a promise fulfilled to Coretta Scott King, the late matriarch of the King family. Sharpton reflected on the current state of civil rights protections, saying, “I never thought that 23 years later, Martin and I, with Arndrea, would be doing a march and we’d have less (civil rights protections) than we had in 2000.”
The legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and the impact of his Washington remarks were acknowledged, but the tragedies that followed his speech were also remembered. The bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, and the kidnapping and murder of civil rights workers in Neshoba County, Mississippi, led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The voting rights marches from Montgomery to Selma, Alabama, further pushed Congress to adopt the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Bernice King, one of King’s children, addressed the younger generation’s perception that not enough progress has been made. She emphasized the importance of recognizing the progress that has been achieved and celebrating the small victories. “We can’t give up, because there’s a moment in time when change comes,” she said.
The gathering on Saturday provided hope for many attendees, including Denorver Garrett, who carried a cross with the names of victims of police brutality and gun violence. Garrett expressed gratitude for the unity displayed at the event, stating, “This fight though, has gotten very hard over time and hearing people who are united for the betterment of our people and communities – it’s recharged me to continue and
