PHOTO: 60th anniversary of March on Washington

Thousands gathered at the Lincoln Memorial under a blazing sun Saturday to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech and to continue to push for racial equality.

Marking the 60th anniversary of the march on Washington led by Dr. Martin Luther King demonstrators at the Lincoln Memorial say it’s imperative to carry on the fight for rights and justice ⁦@WTOP⁩ pic.twitter.com/w8wGCjK4CR

— Dick Uliano (@DickUliano) Aug. 26, 2023

Elaine Lawson, of Jersey City, New Jersey, was in D.C. in 1963 for the original march — the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, still considered one of the most consequential racial justice demonstrations in U.S. history.

“I was 21, and I shared the moment with my husband-to-be,” Lawson recalled.

Now 80, she retraced her steps from 60 years ago before finding a shady spot to rest and reflect.

Of Saturday’s event, Lawson said she hopes “this kindles a lot of hope and that people know there’s still a fight that has to go on.”

Many attendees came by bus from across the nation.

Richard Cummings, of Lansing, Michigan, said he was there to carry on the struggle.

“I decided to come here — not a commemoration but a continuation of the fight for freedom and justice, voting rights,” he said.

Some in the crowd sought the shelter of nearby shade trees. Others stood under the hot sun holding up signs proclaiming democracy and voting rights. The demonstrators listened to speakers before stepping off on a march to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.

Demonstrators commemorate the 1963 march on Washington with march from the Lincoln Memorial to the ML King Memorial @WTOP pic.twitter.com/1ETMc22F8y

— Dick Uliano (@DickUliano) Aug. 26, 2023

The event was convened by the Kings’ Drum Major Institute and the Rev. Al Sharpton‘s National Action Network.

Speakers delivered a number of different messages under the banner of justice. Speakers and banners talked about the importance of LGBTQ and Asian American rights. Many who addressed the crowd were women. The 1963 march featured only one female speaker.

While the crowd was smaller than 1963 when as many as 250,000 gathered, the Associated Press said Saturday’s crowed numbered in the tens of thousands.

WTOP’s Dick Uliano and the Associated Press contributed to this report.