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By Anslem Samuel | Published January 11, 2012 | Full size is 620 × 480 pixels

Impact of March on Washington In 1963, over 200,000 people descended upon the national mall for the March on Washington, which civil rights activist Bayard Rustin spearheaded as the march’s chief organizer. During this historical event, Dr. King’s profile as a civil rights leader reached its peak as he recited his legendary “I Have a Dream” speech. The march is credited with motivating congress to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which made public discrimination and segregation illegal and mandated that employers provide equal employment opportunities in the United States. “This is the benchmark by which all movements are evaluated from the Tea Party to Occupy Wall Street to the SlutWalks,” says Peterson. “It is a high bar considering the amount of people that attended and the media coverage of that event.”

Impact of March on Washington

In 1963, over 200,000 people descended upon the national mall for…

(Image: Getty)

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