The historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom took place on August 28, 1963. Over 200,000 people gathered near the Lincoln Memorial on that day to demand equality, jobs and justice. August 28th also marks the anniversary of the brutal lynching of Emmett Till in Mississippi in 1955.
Here we are again, decades later, still marching, still fighting for our equality, still watching black men and women slaughtered unjustly, still facing systemic racism, and all of this in the midst of a COVID-19 epidemic which is disproportionately affecting Black lives.
Many of you will not be able to attend the march today. That doesn’t mean you can’t participate. Though the march is one day, the struggle is ongoing. The civil rights movement is not simply a point in history — it continues.
You can participate from home by joining the Virtual March on Washington.
Convened by Rev. Al Sharpton and Martin Luther King III, the Commitment March will gather at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. to restore and recommit to the dream Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. defined in 1963.
Click here for a schedule of events.
The 2020 Virtual March on Washington is about asking everyone — from protesters in the streets to elected officials at all levels of government — to commit to pursuing a new agenda that prioritizes equity, justice, and opportunity for all. Get ready for an interactive series of events and virtual experiences.
The keynote speaker for today’s event will be Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II at 9 PM EDT.
See you there.