One of the main men who organized the March on Washington was a 74-year-old man named A. Philip Randolph. He hired Bayard Rustin to help him organize the march, after failing to organize “A March For Freedom” in 1941 to pressure Franklin Roosevelt to make a change. President John F. Kennedy didn’t like the idea of having a march because he thought that the legislature would take it as a threat and not vote for civil rights laws. Randolph assured the President that the march would be peaceful and orderly, he was right. The reason the march was in Washington D.C. is because Randolph believed that the march should be in the center of power and in the focus of attention. The March on Washington wouldn’t have been so successful without A. Philip Randolph.
Martin Luther was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. Growing up to be an American Baptist Minister. But it took a turn. He dedicated his life to reach his goal of desegregation. Martin was a key part and success in this movement and in the march. Martin was couraged, pursued and determined by other advocates and nonviolent protesting. Martin had been planning this whole march with the “main six” including Bayard Rustin and A. Philip Randolph. They were all determined that this would work and make a change in the eyes of others. The March is famous for Martin's speech. However Martin was never really intended to speak. That's why he was the last to speak. No one wanted to speak last because they would have thought the news crew and crowd would maybe have been gone at that time. But to fill the last slot of speaking in front of the Lincoln Memorial, Martin spoke. He wasn't scheduled to speak, but since it was Martin Luther the crowd was glad to stay and hear him. His speech wasn't really completed or in its final draft and it turn out to be the most legendary speech in the history of America. With the help of Mahalia Jackson. Who hollered behind the scenes “tell them about the dream martin” referring to the “I Have a Dream” speech which was almost given in Detroit.They speech was only supposed to last four minutes like the others. However his speech was quadrupled. Turned out to be 16 minutes. And who else was watching it televised other than thousands from home? President JFK and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson. Which pursued them to make the pass of both acts following all of the protesting. Martin Luther was one of the few to meet with Lyndon B Johnson in the White House to discuss the act, without John F Kennedy. But he had addressed the nation about the Civil Rights on June 11. Which changed America and Martin Luther's goal.
A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin put a lot of hard work setting up and preparing the March on Washington. Volunteers prepared 80,000 boxed lunches priced at 50-cent lunches.2,200 charter buses and 40 special trains were used for transportation to and from the event. They had no idea if anybody would be hurt or attacked so they had 22 first-aid stations. It was 83 degrees that day so they had eight 2,500 gallon water storage units and 21 portable water fountains. A lot of hard work was put into the March on Washington. Spreading the word around to over 250,000 people was the biggest part. And the Main Six had succeeded by have more than 250,000 people in this protest for jobs and freedom.
Many things happened after the March on Washington. About 1,700 were treated from medical aids from being overheated as well as headaches, and insect bites. Only three people were arrested that day, none was a demonstrator. A few weeks after the march four little black girls got bombed at a school. Just nearly a month after the march, president at the time John F. Kennedy was shot and killed. This shows that some people were still strongly against desegregation. There was one scare when an unknown caller told police bombs had been planted in the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial. It turned out to be fake, but for a while the Washington Monument was closed and nobody could ride the elevator to the top of the obelisk.People of the American Nazi Party had try to “crash” it and 3 were arrested. This shows how much people hated the March on Washington. But the most important thing was the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act were passed. And segregation was enforced.
The success of the March and achievements of the modern black freedom struggle carried throughout society and provided a model for social justice change. From the power of huge nonviolent demonstrations inspired Americans, like Martin Luther King Jr. and Bayard Rustin, fighting for equal rights and access to opportunities regardless of race, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation and disabilities. The biggest result of this march was the passing of The Civil Rights Act by Lyndon B. Johnson. On July 2nd 1964. Where all races had the right to vote and any public injustice discrimination was not allowed. All of the “white only” signs were thrown away, blacks had all accesses and rights whites had. And black could sit anywhere they wanted on the bus regarding their skin color. But that didn't stop the rage of the whites. They protested in front of the White House, The Capitol Building, and the Lincoln Memorial. Everywhere with anger and hatred. The KKK outbursted with death threats. They commenced together and tried to annihilate the blacks even though it was against the law now. The KKK and hatred groups are still around today. However lots of things have happened. We’ve had our first black president. Which no one would have thought that would have happened 60 years ago. America has blossomed from 60 years ago. Where the land of the free, with equality for all races, genders, and religions.
There have been many uses in the Civil Rights Movement over protesting for what they believe in, like the March on Washington. One example of something in correlation or connection to the March on Washington could be the March for life. The March for Life is a pro-rally protesting abortion, held in Washington D.C. every year since 1974. This was organized just like the March on Washington. This year there were about 800,000 in attendance, with speakers and a protesting march. Just like The March on Washington in 1963.