Over 200,000 people from across the nation traveled to the National Mall for the March on Washington for Jobs and Equality on August 28, 1963.
Fifty years later, the city is celebrating the anniversary of the historic march by hosting numerous events including faith services at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, youth educational programs and a speech by President Obama.
Here are the major events during the anniversary:
- President Barack Obama will stand at the Lincoln Memorial to give a speech Aug. 28, commemorating Dr. King's speech in the same location 50 years ago. The "Let Freedom Ring" Ceremony will be from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- A 50th anniversary march and rally will be held Saturday, Aug. 24, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The "National Action to Realize the Dream" event has been convened by Martin Luther King III, Rev. Al Sharpton and the National Action Network.
- The Global Freedom Festival will be held on the National Mall, Aug. 24 through Aug. 27. It's open to the public and is hosted by the King Center and the National Park Service.
- The Commemorative Concert of the 57th Annual SCLC International Convention will be held at the Washington Convention Center on Aug. 23 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- The Newseum is hosting a special event, "Reflections on the March on Washington and I Have a Dream Speech 50 Years Later: A Conversation" with Simeon Booker, author of Shocking the Conscience, Aug. 22 from 6-9 p.m.
Here's the complete list of events during the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington:
Wednesday, August 21
Praise and Worship Service for the 50th Anniversary March on Washington
Time: 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Location: Mt. Airy Baptist Church
1100 North Capitol Street, NW
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Capacity: 1,500
Thursday, August 22
Celebrating the Legacy of Youth in the Movement
Protect Our Voting Rights & Social Justice Youth Organizing Training
10th Annual Black Youth Vote! National Civic Leadership Training Conference
Time: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: National Education Association
1201 16th Street, NW
Hosted by the NCBCP Black Youth Black Youth Vote!, NAACP, NEA, Generational Alliance,
NAN Youth Move
Register at the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation
Celebrating the Legacy of Women in the Movement: Past Present and Future
An Intergenerational Roundtable
Time: 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Location: U.S. Capitol, Cannon Caucus Room of the Cannon Caucus Building
Invitation required; to register go to www.ncbcp.org
Celebrating the Legacy of A. Philip Randolph & Bayard Rustin
44th Annual A. Philip Randolph Institute National Conference
Time: Kickoff at 2 p.m.; conference continues through Aug. 27
Location: Hyatt Regency
400 New Jersey Avenue, NW
Hosted by A. Philip Randolph Institute
To register go to www.apri.org
Reflections on the March on Washington and I Have a Dream Speech 50 Years Later:
A Conversation with Simeon Booker, author, Shocking the Conscience
Time: 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Location: The Newseum
555 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Friday, August 23
Drum Majors For Justice Redeem the Dream National Summit
Time: 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Location: Grand Hyatt Hotel
1000 H Street NW
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Drum Majors For Justice Future Leaders Celebration
Time: 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Freedom Plaza
14th Street and Pennsylvania Ave. NW
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Redeem the Dream National Summit and Reception
Time: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Location: National Museum of African Art (Smithsonian Institution)
950 Independence Ave SW
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Celebrating the Legacy of Youth in the Movement
Protect Our Voting Rights & Social Justice Youth Organizing Training
10th Annual Black Youth Vote! National Civic Leadership Training Conference
Time: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: National Education Association
1201 16th Street, NW
Hosted by NCBCP Black Youth Black Youth Vote!, NAACP, NEA, Generational Alliance & NAN Youth Move
To register go to www.ncbcp.org
National Town Hall Meeting on Poverty & Economic Empowerment
Moving Together, Moving Forward: Jobs and Freedom
57th Annual SCLC International Convention
Time: 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Location: Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Hosted by Southern Christian Leadership Conference, SCLC Poverty Institute
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
To register go to http://www.nationalsclc.org
Youth Mass Meeting & Pre-March Rally
Time: 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Location: Metropolitan A. M. E. Church (tentative)
1518 M Street, NW
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Commemorative Concert
57th Annual SCLC International Convention
Time: 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Location: Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Hosted by Southern Christian Leadership Conference
To register go to http://www.nationalsclc.org
Saturday, August 24
50th Anniversary March on Washington National Action to Realize the Dream March & Rally
“Jobs, Justice & Freedom”
Time: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Lincoln Memorial
National Conveners: Martin Luther King, III & Rev. Al Sharpton, National Action Network
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Global Freedom Festival
Time: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.; continues through Aug. 27
Location: The National Mall 7th & 14th Street, NW
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Sunday, August 25
"I Have a Dream" Gospel Brunch with Denyce Graves
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Location: The Willard, 1401 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
For tickets, click here
Monday, August 26
Bayard Rustin Forum on Human Rights
Time: 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Location: Lincoln Theatre 1215 U Street, NW
For more information go to www.apri.org
SCLC Legacy & Leadership Gala
Time: TBD
Location: Capital Hilton 1001 16th St NW
To register go to: www.sclc.org
Tuesday, August 27
50th Anniversary March on Washington Conference on Civil Rights: "Marching Forward By Looking Back"
Location: Howard University
To register click here.
Virtual Education Panel: "50 Years of Struggle; Youth Driving Economics, Education and Social Change"
Time: 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Location: School Without Walls (streamed online)
To watch click here
Wednesday, August 28
Interfaith Service
Time: 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Location: Shiloh Baptist Church
Invitation Required
March for Jobs and Justice
Time: The march will begin at 9:30 a.m.
Participants will assemble at 600 New Jersey Avenue NW at 8 a.m. and proceed to the United States Department of Labor at 200 Constitution Avenue, then to the United States Department of Justice at 950 Pennsylvania Avenue. The march will end at a rally on the National Mall.
“Let Freedom Ring” Ceremony
Time: 11:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.; worldwide bell ringing at 3 p.m. EST
Location: The Lincoln Memorial Washington, DC Speaker: President Barack Obama. Former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter also are expected to attend.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Photo Credit: Getty Images