March On For Voting Rights
March On For Voting Rights was a mass mobilization organized by civil rights leaders in support of the For The People Act held on August 28, 2021.
For the People Act
The announcement of the march came one day after Senate Republicans blocked the For the People Act – a signature voting and election bill that Democrats had pitched to counter state-level efforts. Republicans had expressed widespread opposition to the measure, arguing it was designed to help Democrats succeed in future elections.Organizers
, the eldest son of Martin Luther King Jr., led the march with his family’s organization the Drum Major Institute along with March On, Service Employees International Union, Future Coalition, and Al Sharpton lead with his organization, National Action Network.March On said the need for federal voting rights protections increased dramatically after the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. Major organizers included Martin Luther King III and Cesar Chavez's grandson Alejandro Chavez.
Marches
The August 28 march was planned for the 58th anniversary of the historic March on Washington where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech. Marches were held in Washington DC, Atlanta, Miami, Phoenix and Houston. The rallies were intended to put pressure on Democratic senators to eliminate or weaken the filibuster, which would allow Democrats to pass the legislation without Republican support.Those attending the march in Washington gathered at McPherson Square at 8 a.m. before starting the march at 9:45 a.m. The group marched past Black Lives Matter Plaza, the White House and the Washington Monument before demonstrating from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. near the National Museum of African American History and Culture at 15th Street and Constitution Avenue NW.