Tens of thousands of people are expected to converge on the National Mall in D.C. Wednesday to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivering his historic “I Have a Dream” speech to 250,000 supporters.
King’s famously soaring oratory punctuated the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, a watershed moment for race relations in America that has been remembered in a series of events to culminate in an address from President Obama on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
Former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter — as well as celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Jamie Foxx — will be among a list of speakers who will address a nation that has made great strides in racial equality since King’s “dream” remarks helped bring about landmark civil rights legislation.
NBC News will provide special coverage today of the 50th Anniversary celebrations of Dr. Martin Luther King’s March on Washington and his “I Have a Dream” speech.
Coverage will begin shortly before President Barack Obama speaks around 1:40 p.m. CDT.
Information from KSDK.com contributed to this report.