Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. is remembered as the architect of the historic August 28,1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom (also known as the Great March on Washington). He also is celebrated for his “I Have a Dream” speech — considered one of the greatest of the 20th century. King inspired the 250,000 of all ages who experienced the moment in D.C. and millions who watched him on television.
Yet, he always remembered the towns, neighborhoods, villages, community centers, small churches, where he continued to speak out for freedom, voter registration, economic equity, Civil Rights and more. In this photo, taken two years after the March on Washington, he is seen at a gathering in Cleveland, Ohio, delivering messages to audiences, large and small. He visited the city a dozen times, it is reported, from 1956-1967.
His presence was a factor in helping Carl B. Stokes become the first Black mayor of large city. King continues to inspire leaders as evidenced by today’s March on Wall Street captained by internationally known Rev. Al Sharpton yesterday’s Solidarity with Brooklyn’s Haitian immigrants-in-crisis spearheaded by Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso’s rally.