Written By
Eda Del Rio
Vice President of Cultural Affairs
In the 1950s, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference led by Martin Luther King Jr. and the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters led by A. Phillip Randolph joined forces. Their collaboration created the March on Washington on August 28, 1963, a defining moment in the Civil Rights Movement.
Their shared mission was clear: break free from oppressive systems that benefited only a select few. The only “minority” in this world is the powerful few who force the rest of us to fight for scraps of food and dignity.
Then and Now: What Has Changed Since the March on Washington?
The 62nd anniversary of the March on Washington arrives in a country still grappling with injustice. Today, Americans’ rights remain under attack.
- In Texas, 40% of white voters control 72% of the vote (CBS News Texas).
- Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz” detention facility has closed, while Fort Bliss—a World War II Japanese internment camp—has been reopened to detain immigrants (NBC News).
- Latino children return to school under the shadow of tanks and armed patrols in Washington, D.C. (Education Week).
This was not the dream. We have not yet reached the promised land.
Even artists like Hozier are using their platforms to remind us of the stakes. During his Gov Ball set in NYC, he displayed these statistics:
- The five wealthiest people in the world hold a combined wealth of $869 billion.
- Armed conflict since 1989 has caused 3.8 million deaths.
- Between 2010 and 2023, 47.2 million children were displaced due to conflict.
- In the United States, 770,000 people experience homelessness—that’s 1 in every 435.
“America Works from the Bottom Up” – Barack Obama
Growing up, MLK Day was a community celebration my family regularly attended at Lake Eola in Kissimmee, Florida.
We honored Dr. King with food, performances, and joy.
In 8th grade, my father took me to Barack Obama’s campaign stop in Osceola County (C-SPAN coverage). I remember the joy we felt as we passed protesters. Their voices weren’t loud enough to stop the inevitable. By the time I was old enough to vote, I carried my family’s pride into my first ballot. We celebrated again when Obama won his second term.
I was raised in a world of diverse heroes and I refuse to let that be erased.
My Dreams on the Anniversary of the March on Washington
Just like Dr. King, I have dreams too:
- That children of so-called minorities can go to school without fearing deportation or family separation.
- That people of color aren’t judged by a harsher standard than white people for past mistakes.
- That my parents can visit Colombia without the fear of being forced to stay.
- That Latinos stop being accused of “taking jobs” no one else wants.
- That Latinos are recognized across industries, not reduced to one type of work.
- That people of color stop being labeled as “minorities”—we are the growing majority.
- That we replace the phrase “White Supremacy” with “White Violence.”
- That people finally study history before repeating its darkest chapters.
The Fight Continues
“These words have re-energized me for the fight ahead.”
Latinos, these months have been jarring. Legal or not, our lives have been terrorized by a fascist regime that occupies our government.
As we speak, the regime is planning to seize D.C.’s Union Station by removing FDOT. Seizing railways was central to Hitler’s extermination campaign against the Jewish people.
On this 62nd anniversary of the March on Washington, I urge you to look again at Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech. Consider the words, the time, and what they mean today. Our fight for unity, equality, and a world without a ruling class continues.
The Anniversary of the March on Washington in 2025
On Thursday, August 28, 2025, Rev. Al Sharpton led a march on Wall Street.
He demanded that the American people resist the Trump administration’s attempt to dismantle democracy.
History teaches us that when we unite and march with one mission, we can change the world.
It happened in the 1960s and 62 years later, our world is screaming for change again.
The question is: What will you do?
CBS News Texas. “Texas redistricting maps are racially biased, civil rights advocates say in lawsuit.”
NBC News. “Fort Bliss, once a Japanese American internment camp, reopens to detain immigrants.”
NAACP. “1963 March on Washington.”
C-SPAN. “Obama Campaign Event in Kissimmee, Florida.”
YouTube. “Crowd footage of Hozier concert.”
CBS News New York. “Rev. Al Sharpton leads march on Wall Street to protest DEI rollback.”
NYU News. “Gov Ball 2025 coverage.”
World Without Genocide. “Exploring the role of rail systems in genocide.”
Reuters. “Trump administration seeks to take control of Washington’s Union Station.”
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