Thousands assemble at Lincoln Memorial for March on Washington 2020

Contributed by March on Washington

Photos by

Michael Mitchell

The Cincinnati Herald

The 2020 Virtual March on Washington in sweltering heat this past weekend brought forward a bold National Black agenda in observance of the 57th anniversary of the historic March on Washington, where the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech.

Accompanying virtual events with music performances and keynote speakers were on the nights of August 27 and 28.  This inclusive day of action channeled the soaring energy from this national moment of reckoning and will call for reforms of the systems, structures, policies, and attitudes that enable police brutality, racial discrimination. Organizers also executed a robust civic engagement effort with multiple levers of change, including registering participants to vote and encouraging them to participate in the Census.

“If there ever was a year that underscored the importance of collective action, and the significance of Civil Rights activism, it is the year 2020,” organizers said.

“After months of protests, online petitions, campaigns, and boycotts, we’ve seen firsthand the power we have to bring about systemic change if only we demand it. And although we’ve made some progress, we can’t stop now, they added.

Occurring just days after both the Democratic National Convention and the Republican National Convention, thousands of orderly people from throughout the country joined the virtual march to mobilize ahead of the November elections. Most wore masks in protection against the coronavirus.

The 2020 Virtual March on Washington was about asking everyone — from protesters in the streets to elected officials at all levels of government — to commit to pursuing a new agenda that prioritizes equity, justice, and equal opportunity for all. As we approach the November elections, we must mobilize to vote we’ve never done before, speakers often repeated.

“This is our opportunity to set forth a bold new Black agenda. On August 28, we made history, and he question is, will you be a part of it?’’ they stated.