March on Washington 63rd anniversary focused on voting rights, unfinished work

WASHINGTON - Friday marked the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic March on Washington, and the 63rd‑year commemoration was held on the National Mall, where Dr. King delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech. 

What we know:

This year's march began on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, with the theme "Defend the Vote." Organizers said they are continuing the fight for civil rights and economic justice while also responding to recent Supreme Court rulings that weakened the Voting Rights Act and affected redistricting.

Civil rights leaders, elected officials and activists came together and called for economic justice, equal rights and, above all, a focus on what organizers called "defending the vote." 

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger was among the notable guests who spoke at the event. 

"The right to vote is about more than a ballot," the governor said. "It's about whether we believe that every person should have a voice in our democracy, and I do."

The Human Rights Campaign mobilized participants, and spokesperson Ramiro Sarmiento joined the occasion.

Reverend Al Sharpton and the National Action Network, along with members of the King family, led the demonstration. 

"We must restore voting rights that the Supreme Court just ended, and we must deal with the issue of healthcare…and we must deal with the ending of DEI that Dr. King fought for a Civil Rights Act," Rev. Sharpton said. 

Organizers say they are still marching because the work remains unfinished, and some of the progress made since Dr. King's time is now being threatened. They pointed to changes in DEI policies and recent court battles over voting rights and redistricting.

"Our objective is to get people to engage. People who are frustrated legitimately frustrated hate is being promoted," said Martin Luther King III. "This is not sustainable. Dad would say we gotta learn nonviolence or we might face non-existence."

With the midterm elections approaching, organizers said their goal was to educate voters about their rights, get people registered and encourage them to use their voice at the ballot box.

"The attack on voting is concerning," said Mira Moore. "So, we need to be out here talking about what we need to do to protect that."

The march on Friday retraced the path through the Capitol that was taken more than six decades ago. 

Organizers said the event wasn't just about remembering the march that took place 63 years ago, it was about mobilizing for what comes next. With the midterm elections just months away, they say their focus is now turning the message into action.

NewsWashington, D.C.