50th Anniversary of 'Dream Speech'

WASHINGTON -- Fifty years ago Wednesday in 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood before a crowd of 250,000 people on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and delivered one of the recognized speeches in the fight for equality.

On Wednesday, thousands will gather at the same spot to remember Dr. King’s speech. President Obama will speak to the crowd. He is expected to tie his personal journey and successes to the civil rights movement and Dr. King.

Photo courtesy of afsc.org

Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton will also address the crowd.  A few celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Leann Rimes and Jamie Foxx will also speak.

Celebrations have been ongoing over the last week,and civil rights leaders spoke over the weekend. An interfaith memorial service will be held along with several other events in the Seattle area.

Local and national leaders spoke out on the anniversary of the Dream Speech.

"The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. demands that we not rest on our laurels, but continue his march toward justice," Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said. "From Seattle to Selma, and everywhere in between, we are reminded the fight for equality is far from over."



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