Today, to mark the 57th anniversary of 1963âs iconic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, thousands are once again marching through the nationâs capital to protest racial injustice.
The Commitment March: Get Your Knee Off Our Necks was first announced by Reverend Al Sharpton at George Floydâs funeral in June. Sharpton organized the march alongside the National Action Network and arrived with the family of Breonna Taylor. The families of Floyd, Jacob Blake, Trayvon Martin, Ahmaud Arbery and Botham Jean are also in attendance. Today also marks the 65th anniversary of Emmett Tillâs murder.
Protesters started gathering at the Lincoln Memorial at 7am ET and speeches began a few hours later. The march later moved towards the Martin Luther King memorialâonly fitting for the anniversary of his âI Have a Dreamâ speech. Martin Luther King III was also in attendance, calling on marchers to âbecome the heroes of the history we are making.â
View this post on Instagram THEN AND NOW: Martin Luther King III kisses his daughter, Yolanda Renee King, before she gives a speech at todayâs #MarchOnWashington. They are on the same steps where his father, Martin Luther King Jr., gave his famous âI Have A Dreamâ speech 57 years prior. #MarchOnWashington2020 #BlackLivesMatter #nojusticenopeace A post shared by WUSA9 (@wusa9) on Aug 28, 2020 at 1:28pm PDT
In a separate speech, Martin Luther King’s granddaughter Yolanda Renee King took an optimistic tone. âWe are going to be the generation that dismantles systemic racism once and for all, now and forever,â she said. âWe stand and march for love, and we will fulfill my grandfather’s dream.â
Temperature checks and mask regulations were in effect this morning.
Just to give you an idea of how long the lines are for #MarchOnWashington2020…I didnât even get close to the end in this video. Everyone here will have their temperature checked and they must be wearing a mask to get in. @ABC7News @ABC7GMW pic.twitter.com/14YmFdMAyJ
— Kristen Powers (@ABC7Kristen) August 28, 2020
Jacob Blakeâs fatherâwhose own father marched in â63âcaptured the momentum behind the march in his speech. âThere are two systems of justice in the United States,â he told the crowd. His son is currently recovering in a hospital from seven gunshot wounds fired by a Kenosha police officer. âThereâs a white system and thereâs a Black system. The Black system ainât doing so well. Every Black person in the United States is going to stand up. Weâre tired!â
Images of the march are now emerging on social media. People and social justice groups from all over the country are in attendance, including some from the Bay Area.
View this post on Instagram âI have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.â – MLK âI Have a Dream â speech 57 years ago today. A post shared by Arizona Students For Joe Biden (@students4bidenaz) on Aug 28, 2020 at 11:58am PDT
March on Washington // August 28, 2020 pic.twitter.com/ICagn7R1FQ
— Mo Bella #VoteBlueToSaveAmerica (@Mocraig13) August 28, 2020
View this post on Instagram Today, as thousands gather at the National Mall in Washington D.C. for the 2020 Get Your Knee Off Our Necks March on Washington 57 years later our @nyjusticeleague & #JusticeLeagueCA join forces demonstrating our commitment to fighting for racial justice, policing and criminal justice. We are remembering and honoring our ancestors and leaders before us to continue their legacy of resistance and fortitude to reach liberation! #marchonwashington2020 A post shared by The Gathering For Justice (@gather4justice) on Aug 28, 2020 at 12:13pm PDT
Rhonda and David flew from Oakland, California for the #MarchOnWashington. âOakland has a long history of activism but injustice is everywhere,â and thatâs why they came.
Theyâve been married 28 years pic.twitter.com/CJZEVpzR1u
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) August 28, 2020
View this post on Instagram Enough is enough No justice, no peace No justice, no peace I am tired of seeing people, government and police treat black people as if they are second class citizens. I am tired of learning new names of those who are murdered by police or due to racism. I am out here marching for my ancestors rights, my rights and my future childrenâs rights. We have to leave this county better than we found it and that comes with a lot of uncomfortable conversations. If you have a moral compass you have to vote hate out. The only way we can heal the racial tension in this country to to listen and remove ego to open up your heart. People being murdered by those who are tasked to protect us shouldnât be a political issue, itâs a moral issue, itâs a human issue. Itâs not the time to call out a victims past as a justification for murder, itâs the time to listen to those voices youâve ignored and check your own bias, and learn about how the systems that have been so ingrained in our country that we think itâs normal…. itâs not. It starts from the top down and voting from the top down. If you ever said you would be on the right side of history when you post about MLK, this is your chance because we are still fighting for the same thing he did on this day during the civil rights movement. . . . . #blacklivesmatter #marchonwashington #marchonwasington2020 #mlk #saytheirnames #vote #vote2020 #voteblue2020 #voteforchange #dumptrump A post shared by Morgan Moore (@morganbrimoore) on Aug 28, 2020 at 10:43am PDT
Annie and Isis Wallace (grandmother and granddaughter) drove to the march from Woodbridge. Annie says she didnât get to come the first time so she wanted to make sure to bring her granddaughter @ABC7News #CommitmentMarch pic.twitter.com/yetQeDexOb
— Caroline Patrickis (@Cpatrickis) August 28, 2020
View this post on Instagram Iâm 17. So what? Iâm a 17 year old that will use her voice for those who donât have one anymore. A 17 year old who is apart of the movement. A part of the change. Every single person that was named during this march deserves justice including the ones that arenât named, the ones that go under the radar. Justice for All my brothers and sisters will be served one way or another. Today we showed our muscles, our anger, sadness and anguish. We came together in unity for change. I stand with you and I stand for you forever. Much Love xoxo #vote #blacklivesmatter #marchonwashington A post shared by Chelseaaaa. (@chelseaa.babyy._) on Aug 28, 2020 at 1:57pm PDT
March on Washington, this day 1963 & 2020, by James P. Blair & @agrayphoto. The dream lives on #MarchOnWashington pic.twitter.com/hJLKKftztf
— James Koch (@dont4getthesun) August 28, 2020
View this post on Instagram 8.28.20 . . you always hear about and read about the march in 1963. MLKâs âI Have A Dreamâ speech and the millions who came out to support. . . today was so special â for all I know, there couldâve been a million people here today. I feel so lucky that I was able to show up and support. these moments donât come by very often. . . change is happening. enough is enough. letâs all do our part. A post shared by Ben Meyers (@bennmeyerss) on Aug 28, 2020 at 12:20pm PDT
The Black Lives Matter march is heading south towards the National Mall #MarchOnWashington #DCProtests #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/nSf6AHxOS5
— Brendan Gutenschwager (@BGOnTheScene) August 28, 2020
The Black National Convention begins streaming at 6pm. Highlights from today’s protests, keynote speeches and musical performances will stream as part of the Virtual March on Washington, starting at 9pm.
View this post on Instagram March on Washington 2020 ââââââââââââââââââââ #marchonwashington #marchforourlives #blacklivesmatter #amplifymelanatedvoices #amplifyblackvoices A post shared by âDÕÕ¡Õ², DiÌÖ É¾ BÉ¾Ö Õ¡Õ²! â (@diorashleybrown) on Aug 28, 2020 at 12:46pm PDT
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