50th Anniversary of the March on Washington

The 50th anniversary of the 28 August 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was recently observed, and a contingent of people from New England joined people from throughout the United States in the commemoration.

Prior to the event, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Cultural Diversity commented that this observance calls people to address poverty, racism, and class inequality.

In its statement, the committee said “We join our voices to those who call for and foster continued dialogue and non-violence among people of different races and cultures, and who work tirelessly for the transformative, constructive actions that are always the fruit of such authentic dialogue. We rejoice in the advances that have occurred over the past 50 years, and sadly acknowledge that much today remains to be accomplished. However, we must always view the task that remains from the perspective of the continued call to hope and in the light of faith.”

In urging solidarity to meet the goals of the 1963 march, the bishops stated, “We join the call for positive action that seeks to end poverty, increase jobs, eliminate racial and class inequality, ensure voting rights, and that provides fair and just opportunities for all.”

Media reports:

NECN: March on Washington 50th anniversary: Let freedom ring (28 AUG 13)

CBS Evening News: March on Washington’s 50th anniversary commemoration draws tens of thousands (28 AUG 13)

CBS Evening News: A rabbi’s moment at the March on Washington (31 AUG 13)

Washington Post: March on Washington

Background information:

50th Anniversary March on Washington

Facebook: 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington

American Rhetoric: Martin Luther King, Jr.: I Have a Dream (delivered 28 August 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C.)

Jewish Women's Archive: Rabbi Joachim Prinz speech at the March on Washington