A LETTER FROM DUCHESS We are often taught that the best way to understand Dr Martin Luther King Jr is through his I Have a Dream speech at the March on Washington While Dr King dreamed of racial harmony he also spoke of economic inequality People at the march wanted not only civil rights but also jobs and fair pay The march was organized by several groups including the Congress of Racial Equality the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee the Southern Christian Leadership Conference the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the National Urban League Economic justice was a key part of what they were fighting for Yet people often forget that for King economic justice was an important goal Please join me in learning about the global impact of the March on Washington Join me in a journey that tells the story of the promise of freedom
A group of protesters gathers near the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington
CHAPTER ONE
HE HAD A DREAM On August 28 1963 approximately Washington DC They had arrived 250,000 people streamed into in buses planes and cars Some had walked or hitchhiked hundreds of miles to get there They gathered near the Washington Monument Then the crowd marched 1 mile 1 6 km to the Lincoln Memorial Marchers carried signs that demanded equal rights for African Americans African Americans wanted to have the same freedoms and rights as white people Although most marchers were African American the crowd included people of People traveled from all over the country to attend the March on Washington in Washington DC
