Skip to Main Content

March on Washington - 50th Anniversary (1963-2013): Speeches

The 1963 March on Washington attracted an estimated 250,000 people for a peaceful demonstration to promote Civil Rights and economic equality for African Americans. The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech highlighted the event.

Speeches

Congressman John Lewis Speaks at the National Action to Realize the Dream March and Rally


Congressman John Lewis speaks at the National Action to Realize the Dream March and Rally on August 24, 2013 in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington. Rep. Lewis is the only living speaker from the march in 1963.

John Lewis Marches On


Bill Moyers and Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) meet to share experiences and revelations about the momentous March on Washington both attended 50 years ago.  Lewis shares new insight into how the event unfolded — including last-minute conflicts over his own manuscript. He also discusses the continuing challenges to racial and economic equality, and his unwavering dedication to nonviolence and brotherly love as a means toward a more just end — even when facing inevitable violence and brutality.

Rep. John Lewis: ‘I Shed Blood In Selma, The Vote Is Sacred’


Video of John Lewis' 1963 speech and his 2013 speech.