“Why March? Because it’s Necessary”
Jennifer Jones Austin is a civil rights and social policy advocate and lawyer, author and talk show host. She serves as Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of FPWAJENNIFER
“So how was the March?” was the question re-peatedly posed to me in the days following the March in Washington, D.C. this summer. My gut response every time: “Necessary!” Reflecting upon the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom organized by civil rights leaders and led by Martin Luther King Jr.; his son and daughter-in-law, Martin Luther King III and Arndrea King; and Reverend Al Sharpton determined to organize and lead the March this past August 26th. Appreciating that many people would assume the gathering to be a celebration of the 60th anniversary of the 1963 March, Reverend Sharpton preempted that desig-nation and declared it “neither a celebration nor commem-oration, but a continuation.”
This year’s March was convened for the express purpose of raising the consciousness of our elected officials to the ongoing plight of Black Americans; the increasing threats to Blacks and other persons of color, persons of the Jew-ish faith, and persons identifying as LGBTQ+; to women’s rights; and to the government’s responsibility to uphold and ensure the rights and protections guaranteed to all Ameri-cans by the United States Constitution.
Before locking arms and making their way from the Lin-coln Memorial to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, marchers heard from leaders of civil rights and social policy and advocacy organizations. With just under 200 partner organizations representing people of different faiths, races, ethnicities, and gender identities; and causes centered on voting rights, education, health, economic rights, privacy rights, gun control, hate crimes, excessive use of force, and more, the gathering of tens of thousands was a remarkable demonstration of unity and a shared commitment to get be-hind and lift up all who continue to be marginalized and left behind throughout this nation.
Partner organizations included the Anti-Defamation League; UnidosUS; National Urban League; NAACP; NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund; Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights; National Council on Black Civic Participation; National Council of Negro Women; the American Federation of State, County and Mu-nicipal Employees; AFL-CIO; United Federation of Teach-ers; the Divine Nine; The Links, Incorporated; and proudly, the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, which I am blessed to lead and serve.
Witnessing people from all walks of life and across the country stand united with a singular, overarching demand that America make good on its promise of equality for all en-gendered hope throughout the massive crowd. Attendees found community and comfort in strangers at a time when our country is becoming more and more divided and threats to measures heretofore taken to help ensure the well-being of those who suffer because of racism, bias, and prejudice are not just veil; they are real and being acted on. Through-out the day, America was challenged to live up to her prom-ise of true democracy.
Being a child of the Black Church, the 60th Anniversary March was particularly inspiring in these increasingly chal-lenging times. The Black Church was borne out of the need for refuge and hope for those whose very identity was made a threat to their physical, mental and emotional well-being. The Black Church was birthed to be revolutionary in its re-sponse to injustice—putting on the whole armor of God to speak truth to power. Appreciating that the National Action Network, the Drum Major Institute, and their respective leaders are rooted in the Black Church and its reason for existence—refuge and hope, and unrelenting activism-—should inspire us all.
Marching this past August was just as necessary as it was in August 1963. When still today inequality and inequity abound in the pillars of society—in everything from safe and affordable housing, to jobs and meaningful wages, quality and affordable healthcare, education that ensures reading and math literacy at a minimum; criminal justice, voting rights, and environmental justice—marching to make clear our nonacceptance was necessary. Demonstrating with our feet that we shall not be moved was necessary. Being and evidencing the change we wish to see throughout this land was necessary.
