The March on Washington
The historic 1963 march, Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' speech, and the political context that made it possible.
August 28, 1963
The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom brought an estimated 250,000 people to the Lincoln Memorial — the largest demonstration in American history at that time. It was organized by a coalition of civil rights organizations, labor unions, and religious groups, with Bayard Rustin serving as the chief organizer.
The march had a dual purpose often forgotten today: it demanded both civil rights legislation and economic justice. The full name — 'for Jobs and Freedom' — reflected the movement's understanding that political rights without economic opportunity were incomplete. Demands included a federal jobs program, a $2 minimum wage, and desegregation of schools.
The Kennedy administration initially tried to discourage the march, fearing it would hurt prospects for civil rights legislation. When it became clear the march would proceed, Kennedy worked to ensure it was orderly and supportive of his bill.