March On Washington Summary
In late 1962, civil rights activists started to organize what would become the
largest civil rights demonstration in the history of the United States. It took a
while, but by June of 1963, they had put together an impressive group of
leaders and speakers – including King – to help them.
The full name of the march was the March on Washington for Jobs and
Freedom, and its organizers had to make sure people had a way of getting into
the city. They had to make sure marchers knew where to go and what to do
once they got there. They had to have doctors and nurses in case anyone
needed first aid. They had to provide water, security, and be ready for any
emergency. And they needed some way to pay for all of it. It was going to take
fund raising, planning and lots of work.
On Aug. 28, the city swelled with marchers. They drove in. They bussed in.
They took trains. Three student marchers walked and hitchhiked 700 miles to
get there. A quarter million people waved signs and cheered and listened to
speakers address the civil rights problems challenging America. The last
speaker was Martin Luther King Jr.
“I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the
greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation,” King began.
And it did; the March on Washington is still the largest political rally in our
nation’s history.
The march was an unprecedented success. More than 200,000 black and white
Americans shared a joyous day of speeches, songs, and prayers led by a
celebrated array of clergymen, civil rights leaders, politicians, and entertainers.
Quotes from the March on Washington
“They expected us to be violent and for Washington to be torn up. But everybody had
been told to remain nonviolent, just as we had been throughout the movement.”
-Juanita Abernathy
“The March on Washington symbolized a rising up, if you will, of people who were
saying enough is enough. We’re going to walk together, sing together, stand together,
and stay together.
-Fred Shuttlesworth
“When we leave, it will be to carry on the civil rights revolution home with us into
every nook and cranny of the land, and we shall return again and again to
Washington in ever growing numbers, until total freedom is ours.”
-Phillip Randolph
“We had to seize this opportunity and make our voices heard. Make those who are
comfortable with our oppression—make them uncomfortable—Dr. King said that was
the purpose of this mission.”
-Harry Bellafonte
“At that point, the police all over Mississippi had cracked down so hard on us that it
was more and more difficult to raise money, to organize without harassment from the
local cops and the racists. I thought a large march would demonstrate that we had
support outside our small group.”
-Joyce Ladner
Program of Events
for the March on Washington
List of Demands
of the March on Washington
March on Washington Map
Photo from the March on Washington
The view from the podium
Audio of Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” Speech
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIshI_qxxew