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Fifty years ago this Wednesday, the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom brought together hundreds of thousands Americans to the steps of the nation’s capitol to take a strong stand against racism in the US.

It was one of the most important moments in American history, symbolized most prominently today by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s most famous speech, I have a Dream which we just heard.

The march was conceived by A Philip Randolph, and primarily organized by Bayard Rustin, who was post-humously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom earlier this month by President Obama.

It brought together Black and White Americans in a show of force that reflected deep public anger over, and widespread determination to counter, racial segregation and other race-based injustices.

The March on Washington is credited with helping to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Yet, this anniversary comes just weeks after the US Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act, yet another sign that the promise that King referred to in his speech we heard, remains empty.

Thousands of people have converged on DC over the weekend and will remain there this week. Some of them will see President Obama’s position as proof of a promise kept and a dream fulfilled. Others will shun Obama’s participation because his presidency has continued some of the worst abuses of his predecessor.

This week we bring you special coverage each day of the 50th anniversary celebrations starting with a special report by KPFK Correspondent and volunteer coordinator Jessie Wood from Washington DC where she spoke with elders who were at the original march in 1963 and had returned 50 years later.

Myrlie Evers Williams, the widow of civil rights icon Medgar Evers, addressed the rally. Although she was not at the March in 1963, she is a prominent civil rights activist in her own right, having served as chairwoman of the NAACP among other things. Williams made reference to an issue that is on everyone’s minds in DC, namely Trayvon Martin. She also referred to women’s participation in the civil rights movement.

Special thanks to Jessie Wood for recording, and to Bipasha Shom for editing the audio.