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 .