On August 28, 1963, 250,000 people, from domestic workers and grandmothers to prominent civil rights leaders including A. Philip Randolph and Dr. Dorothy Height, gathered in Washington, D.C., for what would become a revolutionary event. The peaceful protest, now known as The March on Washington, saw those advocates marching from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial—a distance of about 1 mile. More than six decades later, the event is most notably remembered for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

The initial goal of this march was to advocate for the civil and economic rights of African Americans, specifically pushing for fair employment, meaningful civil rights legislation and an end to racial segregation. Fair voting rights and protecting the constitutional right to vote for African Americans, especially in the South, was also a major concern.

Now, present day civil rights activists and community leaders are looking to recreate the historic 1963 march in part to honor the monumental event’s 63rd anniversary. The National Action Network (NAN) Founder and President Rev. Al Sharpton, together with Martin Luther King III (the eldest son of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.), Arndrea Waters King, and the Drum Major Institute and other partners, announced “March on Washington 2026: Defend the Vote,” to be held in Washington, D.C. on Friday, August 28, 2026.

A growing coalition of national partners have also confirmed participation, including the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), the National Urban League (NUL), the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP), the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), UnidosUS, the Working Families Party, Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA), Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Lawyer’s Committee), and Veterans Equity Project, Inc., Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Common Cause, People Power United, United For Democracy, Vote.org, Family Equality, In the Public Square, Bet Mishpachah, Faith in Action Fund, Faith in Action National Network, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC), the Interfaith Alliance and multiple houses of worship. In addition, The Honorable Yvette Clarke, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, will be joined by a delegation of members at the march.

More than half a century after Dr. King stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and passionately declared his dream for America, the fundamental right at the heart of that dream, the right to vote, is once again under direct assault. The 2026 march comes at a moment of profound urgency, following the United States Supreme Court’s decision to eliminate Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, a ruling Rev. Sharpton has called “a bullet in the heart of the voting rights movement.”

“Defending the vote means defending the foundation of our democracy,” said Martin Luther King III. “Sixty-three years after my father stood at the Lincoln Memorial, we are called to march again, not only in remembrance, but in action.”

Co-chaired by Rev. Al Sharpton, Martin Luther King III, and Arndrea Waters King (daughter-in-law of Dr. King), the March on Washington: Defend the Vote is a nonpartisan, unified mobilization that will help join labor, clergy and youth organizers, as well as, community leaders around three shared goals: defending voting rights, securing economic dignity, and ensuring affordability for everyday people. Each organization marches under its own banner, grounded in its own convictions, toward these common goals.

Under the banner “Defend the Vote,” promises to be a unifying gathering. It is both a commemoration of the legacy of those who marched in 1963 and a call to action to protect the gains they fought, bled and died to secure.

Registration for March on Washington 2026: Defend the Vote is now open, and those interested in registering are encouraged to visit the National Action Network website.