March on Washington
The March on Washington occurred on August 28, 1963. It is estimated that about 200,000 - 300,000 thousand people attended. It is one of the largest political rallies in U.S. history. Martian Luther King Jr. gave his "I have a dream" speech. It was for African American civil and economic rights. 1963 also marked the 100th year of the Emancipation Proclamation. The march was planned by A. Philip Randolph. On August 28, 1963 more than 2,000 buses, 21 trains, and 10 airlines arrived at Washington D.C. About 80% percent of the crowd were African Americans. He talked about achieving national equality and creating more jobs for African Americans. This is one of the most famous speeches in U.S. history. It inspired thousands of African Americans to stand up for their rights and believe that one day there would be national equality.