Friend — More than half a century ago, organizers, labor
leaders, and social justice activists, including A. Philip Randolph, Daisy
Bates, Roy Wilkins, Anna Arnold Hedgeman, John Lewis, Dorothy Height, Whitney
Young, Josephine Baker, Myrlie Evers, Bayard Rustin, and Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr., among others, led the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

The date was August 28, 1963, over a century after emancipation. More than
250,000 people gathered in the nation’s capital to protest deep-seated racial
discrimination and segregation, and to demand economic justice, voting rights,
and civil rights protections.

Now, 60 years later, democracy is facing its greatest threat in years. Hate
crimes, racial violence, the erasure of Black history, and extremism are on the
rise. The courts, Congress, and state governments across the country are
becoming emboldened to overturn hard-won civil rights victories and attack our
fundamental freedoms. The moment calls for us all to speak out and fight for our civil rights.

I am deeply honored to be joining and speaking at the 60 th anniversary of the March on Washington on August 26 at our nation’s capital,
proudly standing alongside many fearless leaders in the movement for racial
justice and civil rights. I hope you can join us too, friend.
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If you're in the area, please consider participating in the March on Washington
next Saturday, August 26, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. to
demonstrate our tireless commitment for justice and equality.
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JOIN THE MARCH [[link removed]]When I think about where we are today in the fight for immigrants’ rights and
basic human dignity, I am reminded of the civil rights movement.

In the 1950s and 60s, Black communities experienced unimaginable suffering due
to the worst excesses of white supremacy manifesting across the country. Fire
hoses, lynchings, and police dogs were turned on them. Men, women and children
were savagely beaten, maimed, and murdered out in the open. It's no surprise
that it’s in those same states today that immigrants and communities of color
are being targeted for who we are and what we look like.

In the wake of continuing injustices and incursions on our human rights, do I
feel despair sometimes? Yes. Do I feel that this fight is taking too long? Yes. But as I have those thoughts, I also find myself reflecting on past social
justice movements, like the March on Washington in 1963. What allowed us to move forward and make progress then was the fight for
justice — a fight led by the people most impacted.

That’s why we are calling on you to join arm in arm with us in this fight for
humanity, equality, and freedom on August 26 in Washington, D.C. to show
Congress, state governments, and the courts that we will not stand for
injustices or ever back down from attacks on our communities.
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JOIN THE MARCH [[link removed]]Giving up is not an option. We will eventually win because we have to. Our
ancestors and the brave freedom fighters who came before us achieved victory,
and we will too.

As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but
it bends toward justice.” Together, we can bend that arc toward justice.

We look forward to seeing you on August 26.

Kica Matos
President
National Immigration Law Center

P.S. Can’t join the March in Washington in person? Help us spread word about the
event on social media.
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