How to Practically Take Part in the March to Washington Today
Fifty-seven years ago today, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to deliver his enduring “I Have a Dream” speech, concluding the Washington March for Jobs and Freedom . Another march to Washington will take place at the same location this afternoon, this time involving members of some of the families of black Americans killed or shot by the police. If you were unable to make it to the event in Washington DC, here’s how to watch it today.
What will happen to the march?
The National Network for Action (NAM), a civil rights organization founded by the Reverend Al Sharpton in 1991, organized a march officially called the Commitment March: Get Our Knee Off Our Neck . Sharpton announced the event at a memorial service for George Floyd in June. The Non-Aligned Movement explains that “this is a commitment march, not a memorial march, and we are in favor of law enforcement and criminal justice reform”.
The march also coincides with the 65th anniversary of the murder of Emmett Till , a 14-year-old black child who was abducted and lynched by two white men in 1955; after the murder, the men threw his body into a river in Mississippi. His killers were later acquitted by an all-white jury after 67 minutes of deliberation. Till’s mother, Mamie Till Mobley , insisted on holding the funeral in an open coffin, advising the funeral director to “let people see what I saw.”
The following speakers will speak at the march today:
- Families of George Floyd, Breonne Taylor, Eric Garner and Jacob Blake
- Yolanda King, granddaughter of Martin Luther King
- Martin Luther King III
- Reverend Al Sharpton
- Tylik McMillian, Youth Affairs Coordinator, National Action Network
- Representative Sheila Jackson Lee
- Mark Morial, President of the National Urban League
- Floyd’s family attorney Benjamin Crump
- Representative Karen Bass
Those who participate in person will go through the thermometer registration points. According to the NAM, face masks will be distributed and will need to be worn, and physical distancing will also be practiced.
How to watch the March of Commitment
Participants began gathering at the Lincoln Memorial around 7:00 am today. The main event runs from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM EST. You can stream the march on the NAM websites or March 2020 or live as provided above provided by theNAACP . Streams are also available onThe Washington Post and CBS News . It’s not the same as being there, but you can also show your support and solidarity by sharing live broadcasts on your social media profiles and inviting others to do the same. You can also donate to organizations that support the March and raise money to transport participants.