NCNW PARTICIPATES IN TWO MARCHES ON WASHINGTON
By Kayla Allen
On August 28, 1963, one hundred years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, approximately 250,000 people marched down Constitution and Independence Avenues to the Lincoln Memorial, and into history to hear Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. proclaim the dream of a nation that would no longer practice Jim Crow segregation, deny citizens the right to vote or practice race discrimination in virtually every sector of social, economic and political life in the United States. Fifty-eight years later (2021), the National Council of Negro Women plus thousands of people in more than 95 cities in the were made and the importance of the march was highlighted. NCNW set up their tent on the grounds of 7th and Madison (within the National Mall), right on the front line of the march. There was NCNW apparel available for marchers and members, as well as water and educational material about the organization. There was also an ongoing raffle, and in order to enter, participants had to complete an information card. The lucky winner was chosen every 30 minutes. The raffle prizes included: $25 (2 winners), $50 (2 winners), and $100 (1 winner) Visa gift cards. NCNW was strongly represented by their members, including the Howard University section.
country came together on August 28th to continue the fight for MLK’s dream. NCNW Headquarters staff, volunteers, and local members gathered in Washington D.C to march for voting rights, rally, and recruit new members. They raised their voices to fight voter suppression for the country while demonstrating their mission of leading, empowering, and advocating. Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole, NCNW’s National President, used her mighty voice and words as she proudly spoke on NCNW’s behalf. During Dr. Cole’s speech, she strongly expressed that “the right to vote is a sacred right, and those who would dare to deny it to any eligible American voter, commits an attack on our democracy.” Dr. Cole spoke alongside several civil rights activists and organization leaders, such as Martin Luther King, III, Reverend Al. Sharpton, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, and Rep. Joyce Beatty.
NCNW collaborated with partners at March On, who organized the march, to launch the movement. Through the use of email marketing, social media, and calls to senators, positive impacts 14
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According to the March On organizers, “the fight for voter suppression will not stop until we win.” Our nation’s leading civil rights organizations successfully gathered tens of thousands of people with the same beliefs; freedom, equality, equal opportunity, democracy, and majority rule. Civil rights leaders and organizers vow not to back down from their demands for federal legislation to protect and expand voting rights and for DC Statehood. Marching on Washington together on the 58th anniversary of Martin Luthrt King Jr.'s historic March and “I have a Dream Speech” moved us all closer to the ideal of a nation conceived by our mothers and fathers in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men and women are created equal. Advocates and allies will continue to fight for Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream until it is our consistent reality.
