On Aug. 28, members of the ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) and the Party for Socialism and Liberation joined with thousands of others in the streets of Washington D.C., marching to “Reclaim the Dream” 47 years after the 1963 March on Washington.
 Thousand marched to reclaim the dream PSL photo: Merryjessica Fuerst |
The event was called by Reverend Al Sharpton, President of the National Action Network, and included participation from numerous progressive organizations including members of the NAACP, National Urban League, SEIU and Teamsters National Black Caucus, as well as many individuals who came out to stand up for the dream that inspired so many 47 years ago.
On Aug. 28, 1963, the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom became one of the pinnacle events of the civil rights movement. The “I Have a Dream” speech is arguably the most widely remembered moment of a movement that radically transformed society, but as thousands of people indicated at the anniversary march this past Saturday, it is a movement that has yet to see its complete fulfillment.
Individuals bearing signs made the state of civil rights in America crystal clear, with slogans such as “Immigrant Struggles It’s Ours Too!,” “The Dream Still Rises Above Terrorism,” and perhaps most emblematic, “This Is a Movement Not A Moment.” Exposing the disintegrating nature of civil rights in a country whose leaders often lay claim to equality and opportunity for all, these signs made their way down more than three miles of city streets, uplifted by the spirit of a people unconvinced.
Since the civil rights movement began, leaders of the country have used the gains made, such as the overthrow of Jim Crow, as evidence that the U.S. is now a color-blind society. In theory, people are no longer denied opportunity based upon their race, and the era of American apartheid has long since ended. After all, the highest office of the government is now held by an African-American man.
But the reality is that Dr. King’s dream has yet to materialize. With continuing attacks on the rights of immigrants, the continuing injustice of the prison system, and attacks on welfare and other needs-based programs, progressive people still have a long way to go. As one attendee of Saturday’s march stated, “People are tired of the same old rhetoric and the same old nonsense. Every time we take two steps forward, there’s always somebody trying to kick us back three or four steps.”
So with chants of “Martin’s dream is under attack! What do we do? Stand up, fight back!” thousands filled the streets of D.C., undeterred even by the Tea Party counter demonstrators rallied by reactionary broadcaster Glen Beck. This counter rally included speeches by Beck and Sarah Palin on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, the same place from which Dr. King and other leaders spoke during the 1963 March on Washington, Although Beck has stated that coincidence of the date and location was merely “divine providence,” Reverend Sharpton expressed his doubt in this claim, saying that the “Restoring Honor” rally was “an effort to embarrass and poke a finger in the eye of the civil rights community.”
But in strength and solidarity, the demonstrators continued their march through the city, many following the PSL banner that read “An injury to one is an injury to all! Stand up and fight back against racism, sexism, and anti-LGBT bigotry.”
The demonstration ended at the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial, where people embraced and expressed their hope for what their efforts would produce. As one gentlemen explained, “It is important to let the nation know that there’s not just one view in the world – that there is another side. The side is equality for all and justice for all. We decided to reclaim the dream that Martin Luther King had, and we’re just trying to let everybody know that the dream he had was for everyone, not just for a segment of the population.”
