March on Washington is a type of protest in which a group gathers in the United States capital of Washington, D.C. There, the marchers present grievances to lawmakers and draw attention to their cause. This article discusses one of the most famous of these marches, the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
The U.S. civil rights movement began in the 1950’s. But by 1963, racial discrimination remained a problem in many cities and towns. Racial discrimination is unequal treatment based on race. African American leaders felt that the United States needed a clear, strong federal policy that would erase all remaining discrimination in public places. A number of these leaders, including Martin Luther King, Jr., and A. Philip Randolph, organized a massive march in Washington, D.C. The event was called the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. It was meant to bring attention to unemployment among black workers and to urge Congress to pass President John F. Kennedy’s civil rights bill.
On Aug. 28, 1963, about 250,000 Americans, including many whites as well as blacks, marched from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial. It was the largest demonstration of the American civil rights movement. The event ended with a program of speakers, including the civil rights leaders John Lewis, Bayard Rustin, Roy Wilkins, and Whitney Young and the labor leader Walter Reuther. The event also featured the music of Marian Anderson, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Mahalia Jackson, and the trio Peter, Paul, and Mary.
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Murphy, Bruce Allen. "March on Washington." World Book Student. World Book, 2014. Web. 27 Oct. 2014.