By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
More than six decades after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic “I Have a Dream” speech, civil rights leaders are preparing to return to the nation’s capital for a new March on Washington focused on protecting voting rights.
The “March on Washington 2026: Defend the Vote” is scheduled for Aug. 28, marking the 63rd anniversary of the original 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The event is being organized by Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network, in partnership with Martin Luther King III, Arndrea Waters King, the Drum Major Institute, and a broad coalition of civil rights, labor, faith, and community organizations.
Organizers say the march follows a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that narrowed key protections under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, prompting renewed concerns among voting rights advocates about equal access to the ballot.
“Defending the vote means defending the foundation of our democracy,” Martin Luther King III said in announcing the event, adding that the anniversary is an opportunity to honor his father’s legacy through action as well as remembrance.
Sharpton called the court’s decision a significant setback for the voting rights movement and said the march is intended to encourage civic participation ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The coalition includes the NAACP, National Urban League, National Council of Negro Women, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the American Federation of Teachers, and several other national organizations. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus are also expected to participate.
Organizers hope the gathering will echo the spirit of the 1963 march, which drew approximately 250,000 people and helped build momentum for passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.