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The March on Washington, held on August 28, 1963, remains one of the most significant moments in the Civil Rights Movement, garnering national attention to the issues of racial and economic inequalities. Civil rights and labor leaders organized the event, which drew over 250,000 people united in the fight for civil rights and economic justice for Black people. This peaceful demonstration featured performances, prayers and notably, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech delivered from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. As one of the most influential moments in history, the March on Washington is credited as a pivotal event that led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Freedom Summer, launched in the summer of 1964, was a campaign organized by a large coalition of civil rights groups with the objective of not only increasing voter registration in Mississippi, but also establishing “Freedom Schools” which were focused on teaching basic civics, literacy and history to Black children and adults. It demonstrated the power and efficacy of grassroots organizing in the Deep South, and despite violence at the hands of white supremacists, the coalition’s efforts contributed to the advancement of civil rights for all. We cannot take the victories of the past for granted. After a key provision in the Voting Rights Act was gutted in 2013, the right to vote has been obstructed by legislators pushing an extremist agenda that serves the white and wealthy. Voting rights remain under threat as more restrictive voter identification laws, racially gerrymandered districts and other extreme measures are enforced and expanded each year. LGBTQ+ communities continue to push back against a slew of hateful laws passed every year that seek to police and eradicate gender-affirming care and attempt to silence LGBTQ+ voices through censorship in public school classrooms. Immigrants are constantly demonized for their existence, with extremists calling them “an invasion.” The SPLC is working to strengthen democracy every day. Through the courts, we fight against racially gerrymandered districts, unfair voting laws and discriminatory legislation that violates the civil rights of Black and Brown communities, immigrants and LGBTQ+ people across the Deep South. Additionally, we increase civic participation by supporting small organizations that are mobilizing their communities around local issues and registering voters throughout the year, not just during the election season. Through public policy, we work with lawmakers to advocate for sensible voting rights legislation, such as the Florida Voting Rights Act introduced earlier this year. Our work is not over, and we need your help in our fight to expand civil and voting rights, especially during this very important election year. We cannot afford to lose to extremists who seek to destroy all that we’ve worked so hard to obtain. Friend, would you be able to make a special gift today to continue fighting for our democracy?
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