Many events planned for March on Washington
Sharpton was key organizer of upcoming Aug. 24 March on Washington.
(NNPA Photo by Freddie Allen)
By George E. Curry
WASHINGTON, D.C. (NNPA) – In addition to the long-planned March on Washington scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 24, the White House has announced that President Obama will speak at a commemorative service at the Lincoln Memorial on Aug. 28, the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Justice.
“National Action to Realize the Dream March” on Aug. 24 will be co-chaired by Al Sharpton and Martin Luther King, III. According the list of speakers announced thus far, it will be held in the spirit of the original march. On the other hand, the King Center in Atlanta, headed Bernice King, is more commemorative.
It is celebrating Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech by asking communities to organize “Let Freedom Ring” bell-ringing events on Aug. 28 at 3 p.m. Eastern Standard Time to observe the exact time Dr. King delivered his historic address.
The Let Freedom Ring” commemoration and call to action” will be held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 28. The program begins with an interfaith service from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial on the National Mall, followed by the “Let Freedom Ring” ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial from 1 to 5:30 p.m.
President Obama is scheduled to speak at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Ironically, Obama accepted his party’s nomination on 45th anniversary of the march on Aug. 28, 2008 in Denver. In his acceptance speech, he made reference to Dr. King but did not call him by name, preferring to refer to him as “a young preacher from Georgia.”
Obama’s second inauguration in January of this year fell on the day of national observance of Dr. King’s birthday, but Obama referred to “a King,” but again did not mention MLK by name. On Aug. 28, he gets a third time to be more specific.
Throughout most of his presidency, Obama has been reluctant to address the issue of race. But that apparently changed with the shooting death of unarmed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin and the subsequent acquittal of George Zimmerman on second-degree murder charges. The Aug. 28 platform will provide him another opportunity to address race.
With one member of the King family – Martin III – helping lead the Saturday march and another – Bernice – the driving force behind the March 28 event at the Lincoln Memorial, some supporters are worried that holding two separate marches might reduce attendance at each event, sending the wrong message about Blacks’ determination to fight regressive actions and court decision
Trying to put the best face on the situation, organizers argue that because the Obama announcement came so late, it will not interfere with the Aug. 24 march because those planning to attend have already solidified their transportation and hotel plans.
Both the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and the Bayard Rustin Institute are holding their annual conventions in Washington that week.
Obama’s speech will culminate a week of activities centered around the original march. Among the events planned:
Wednesday, Aug. 21
Praise and Worship Service for 50th Anniversary Celebration,
7–8:30 p.m., Mt. Airy Baptist Church, 1100 N. Capitol St., NW Washington, DC 20002 Hosted by the National African American Clergy Network
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Thursday, Aug. 22
Celebrating the Legacy of Women in the Movement
Women in the Movement: Past, Present & Future Intergenerational Roundtable – 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Venue TBD Washington, D.C. Hosted by NCBCP Black Women’s Roundtable, National Council of Negro Women, National Action Network in partnership w/The King Center, Planned Parenthood
Invitation Only
