March on Washington 20th Anniversary

Black sketch illustration of the White House and the Washington Monument surrounded by black text on the top rim and red text on the bottom rim with red text in the center below the illustration, all on a yellow background; two red rings border the rim text

The March on Washington for Jobs, Peace, and Freedom—now often referred to simply as the "March on Washington"—took place in Washington, D.C. on August 28, 1963. More than 200,000 and up to 300,000 participated in the march, rallying for African American civil rights. Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic "I Have a Dream" speech was the grand finale, following a lineup of talented speakers. The 1963 March on Washington is often credited as a major catalyst for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and as laying the groundwork for the Selma marches of 1965.

The 20th Anniversary March on Washington was held on August 27, 1983, bringing together more than 250,000 people at the Lincoln Memorial and National Mall. Organized by Coretta Scott King and a coalition of civil rights, labor, and peace organizations, the event commemorated the historic 1963 march while calling attention to ongoing struggles for racial equality, economic justice, nuclear disarmament, and women’s rights. While the anniversary march celebrated progress since 1963, it also emphasized the work still to be done in fulfilling King’s vision of justice and equality.