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King Center Celebrates March on Washington Anniversary

August 18th, 2013

50 years ago Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. held the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Saturday kicked off a week and a half long celebration of the historic event.

Hundreds came to the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of King’s “I Have A Dream” speech. Bernice King, daughter of the civil rights icon told the crowd values like freedom and equality are just as important today in countries like Egypt as they were here 50 years ago.

“2013 is really about the world society. As my father said, we have inherited a thing called the “world house”, and we have to learn to live together as brothers and sisters or as he says, perish together as fools”.

Congressman John Lewis was with King at the march on Washington. He says King’s famous speech is every bit as relevant 50 years later.

“You’re never too young or too old to dream. And then get out there and make that dream a reality. And push and pull so that it’s time for us to march again on Washington for jobs and freedom”.

The expo also featured storytelling from people who attended the march, along with music, dance, and an open house at Dr. King’s birthplace.