March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom

The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, also known as simply the March on Washington or The Great March on Washington,[1][2] was held in Washington, D.C., on August 28, 1963.[3] The purpose of the march was to advocate for the civil and economic rights of African Americans. At the march, final speaker Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., standing in front of the Lincoln Memorial, delivered his historic "I Have a Dream" speech in which he called for an end to racism.[4]

March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
Part of the Civil Rights Movement
View from the Lincoln Memorial toward the Washington Monument
Date	August 28, 1963; 60 years ago (1963-08-28)
Location	Washington, D.C., U.S. 38°53′21″N 77°3′0″W
Caused by	Centennial signing of the Emancipation Proclamation Success of Birmingham campaign Mass movements and demonstrations throughout the United States
Resulted in	200,000 to 300,000 people participate Speech "I Have a Dream" delivered by Martin Luther King Jr. Catalyst to pass Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965

The march was organized by A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin, who built an alliance of civil rights, labor, and religious organizations[5] that came together under the banner of "jobs and freedom."[6] Estimates of the number of participants varied from 200,000 to 300,000,[7] but the most widely cited estimate is 250,000 people.[8] Observers estimated that 75–80% of the marchers were black.[9] The march was one of the largest political rallies for human rights in United States history.[6] Walter Reuther, president of the United Auto Workers, was the most integral and highest-ranking white organizer of the march.[10][11]

The march is credited with helping to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964.[12][13] It preceded the Selma Voting Rights Movement, when national media coverage contributed to passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that same year.[14]