Reflecting on the March on Washington: Voices from the 61st anniversary
NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY)– On August 28, 1963, over 250,000 people gathered in the nation’s capital to demand civil rights and justice for all.
The significance of that day was brought into focus once again at the remembrance breakfast banquet held at New Beginning Church.
Jeannie Lennon, who was 17 at the time, vividly recalls her experience participating in the march.
“It was just an amazing day. Many women and grandmothers were there, dispersed throughout the crowd to help try and provide safety. It was very moving. We were standing on the ground of Lincoln, and I climbed up on a lamppost to see Martin Luther King as he gave his speech. It was one of the most memorable moments of my life.”
Lennon’s recollection captures the hope of the civil rights movement.
“We were filled with a mix of emotions in those early 60s days because of the racial tension, but there was also hope that we could learn to live together differently and build a better world. I left the march really filled with hope and inspired—’inspirational’ would be the best word for it.”
Dr. Herbert Harris, then a college student, felt a strong urge to participate in the march, “At the time, there was such a sentiment that you wanted to be part of the movement. One of my classmates was JoJo McNeil, one of the Greensboro Four, so you really wanted to be involved. When the March on Washington took place, it was such a significant event.”
In recognition of their participation in the historic march, Lennon and Harris were awarded medals at the breakfast, turning the event into a true celebration of their legacy and the ongoing impact of the civil rights movement.
