In response, Randolph cancelled plans for the march.Ĭivil rights demonstrators did assemble at the Lincoln Memorial in May 1957 for a Prayer Pilgrimage for Freedom on the third anniversary of Brown v. Roosevelt to issue Executive Order 8802, which mandated the formation of the Fair Employment Practices Commission to investigate racial discrimination charges against defense firms. The threat of 100,000 marchers in Washington, D.C., pushed President Franklin D. This job market had proven to be closed to blacks, despite the fact that it was growing to supply materials to the Allies in World War II. Philip Randolph, founder of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, called for a march on Washington, D.C., to draw attention to the exclusion of African Americans from positions in the national defense industry. The 1963 March on Washington had several precedents. During this event, Martin Luther King delivered his memorable “ I Have a Dream” speech. Kennedy to initiate a strong federal civil rights bill in Congress.
The march was successful in pressuring the administration of John F. On 28 August 1963, more than 200,000 demonstrators took part in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in the nation’s capital.