the crowd. >> i stand here today to call on this great and mighty nation to wake up, wake up to unfair legality parading as morality. wake up to insensitivity to the poor. >> everybody my age and all the entertainers, it's time for us to stand up now and renew this dream. that's what we got to do. >> we come today to not only celebrate and commemorate, but we come as the children of dr. king. >> we celebrate today that we have become a country that believes in equality, and we recommit ourselves to be a country that acts on that belief. >> and joining me now is washington post columnist eugene robins robinson, clip matthews, and

nathan conley. we also have standing by ron allen at the lincoln memorial. chris and eugene, we're waiting to alert our audience of the founder and president of the children's defense fund. she served as council for mlk's poor people campaign. she will be speaking shortly. the anticipation is growing to the president's remarks. >> yes, i think we've heard a lot of great oratory today, but the concrete news story for tomorrow morning's papers and tonight on the nightly news is going to have to come from the president. he is really being set up here, if you will, to deliver something concrete. now, i really think it's important that he do that on the issue of jobs because this was, of course, a commemoration today and has been of the campaign for

jobs back 50 years ago that martin luther king led. jobs. i think that's how the standard is going to be set for his speech tonight. will he promise something really, really big that the republicans will have a hard time saying no to? or will he say no to himself? i think that's the worst possible thing you can do today is say no to himself and hesitate, be too prudent, and not offer a big proposal. otherwise, he's going to end his second term with the unemployment rate roughly the same as the one he inherited. that's not a good record for a democratic president. >> but chris, let me ask you this. the president has been on this jobs tour and talking about his effort to get people back to work. but living in this moment, in this time, we said oprah winfrey is perhaps the personification of dr. king's dream, but we know that the first african-american president is that. regardless of policy or the politics that happens in that tough town that you love so well, the emotion of seeing that is something that cannot be disputed through any fact.

it is the reality that he is the first african-american president to walk down those stairs and follow in the footsteps of dr. martin luther king jr. >> well, that's right. of course, you're telling the good part of the story. i'm not sure it's my job to repeat that. >> well, that's the great part of the story on this 50th anniversary, isn't it? >> well, let me tell you, when you study the speech of dr. king here 50 years ago, the first part of the speech was a tough indictment of a promissory note, the emancipation proclamation issued in 1963. he said five score years later i'm coming to collect it, but it's a bad check so far. and we're not going to put up with this waiting period anymore. so the other part of the speech at the end was about i have a dream. but the tough indictment in the first half was to the white establishment of this country saying, you have given us a bad check, and we're not going to put up with it anymore. so i do think, i do think we have to have both speeches today, both messages.

my experience in life is it's better to put forth the challenge than to be the cheerleader. >> well, the challenge is already put forth. i think that's an obstacle that's undeniable. eugene, let me bring you in on this. as chris rightly points out, the concern of joblessness, not just for african-americans but americans in general, still stands very high. when you look at it as chris pointed out, the speech of dr. king, the constitution, the emancipation proclamation, the good bible pointed out many reference points for dr. king. there s i feel, today, an opportunity to balance both the emotion and the reality of what happened. when you hear, for example, the story over and over that the remarks of "i have a dream" were ad libbed and the idea that they stood up there and said, tell them about the dream. we can talk politics, and there's a time and place for everything. the time and place, i believe, today is for both of those

things. >> well, i guess that's right. this is a day to be aspirational. this is a day to think big and to speak big about big ideas and the big moment. 50 years later an african-american stands in the same spot on the steps of the lincoln memorial as an embodiment, an incarnation, in many ways, of dr. king's dream. i think chris is right in the sense that this is a somewhat different track. dr. i think was an activist. he was an activist. president obama is the president. presidents have to propose concrete steps that take us closer to the dream. and so i do think that the task that president obama has this afternoon is to combine those two roles. the historic moment and the

opportunity to take concrete steps. >> absolutely. we hear the crowd reacting to oprah winfrey, a young girl growing up poor in the south to become one of the most powerful women in the world. let's listen in. >> i was 9 years old when the march was occurring. i asked my mama, can i go to the march? took me 50 years, but i'm here. on this date in this place at this time 50 years ago today, dr. martin luther king shared his dream for america with america. dr. king was the passionate voice that awakened the conscious of a nation and inspired people all over the world. the power of his words resonated because they were spoken out of an unwavering belief in freedom, injustice, equality, and opportunity for all. let freedom ring was dr. king's closing call for a better and

more just america. so today people from all walks of life will gather at 3:00 p.m. for bell-ringing events across our great country and around the world as we reaffirm our commitment to dr. king's ideals. dr. king believed that our destinies are all intertwined, and he knew that our hopes and our dreams are really all the same. he challenged us to see how we all are more alike than we are different. so as the bells of freedom ring today, we're hoping that it's a time for all of us to reflect on not only the progress that has been made, and we've made a lot, but on what we have accomplished

and also on the work that still remains before us. it's an opportunity today to recall where we once were in this nation and to think about that young man, who 34 years old stood up here and was able to force an entire country to wake up, to look at itself, and to eventually change. and as we, the people, continue to honor the dream of a man and a movement, a man who in his short life saw suffering and injustice and refused to look the other way, we can be inspired and we, too, can be courageous by continuing to walk in the footsteps of the path that he forged. he's the one who reminded us that we will never walk alone. he was, afterall, a drum major

for justice. so as the bells toll today, let us reflect on the bravery, let us reflect on the sacrifice of those who stood up for freedom, who stood up for us, whose shoulders we now stand on. and as the bells toll today at 3:00, let us ask ourselves, how will the dream live on in me, in you, in all of us? as the bells toll, let us remind ourselves injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. as the bells toll, we commit to a life of service because dr. king, one of my favorite quotes from him is, not everybody can be famous, but everybody can be great because greatness is determined by service. so we ask ourselves, what are we doing for others, to lift others up? as the bells toll, we must

recommit to the love that abides and connects each of us to shine through and let freedom ring. >> there we heard brief remarks from oprah winfrey. she uis to be followed by congressman john lewis. the king family will be introduced as well. let me bring in briefly john hopkins university professor, civil rights historian nathan connelly. let me get your perspective to what we're seeing from 50 years ago briefly before hearing from congressman lewis, and in his place, being the last of these great men who stood there. >> the context that leads us into the march on washington in 1963 tells us a lot about what we should be thinking about going forward. economic growth did not mean the same thing as economic justice.

in the ten years that led into the march on washington, the american economy grew. the gdp by some 41%. at the same time, african-americans were suffering massive unemployment at a rate twice that of whites. those who did have jobs were largely consigned to jobs as domestics or underpaid agricultural workers. about 42% of african-americans, again in city, were living below the poverty line of $3,000 a year. so the march on washington in john lewis' attempt, in some case, to put a face on it early was to remind americans that economic justice required political power. in the two months before the march when king spoke in detroit before a crowd of 150,000, he reminded them there in his version of the "i have a dream" speech in detroit that it was time for blacks to have access to housing and jobs.

>> let me get you to pause one second as we watch the president and the first lady now desce descending the stairs. this will be followed by the star-spangled banner performance. you see the president there. his remarks are scheduled around 2:44 p.m. eastern time. it is now 2:12 eastern time. you hear the applause there. professor, again, chris made the point about the president needing to address some of these current issues. double-digit unemployment rate for african-americans and to equate it to what we experienced then and sadly the numbers that exist today. >> no, it's a great point. i mean, again, when barack obama was elected president, it was important for many african-americans to see him as a realization of that political power. for many, he realized that vision -- >> let me pause you as we listen to the national anthem.

♪ o, say can you see by the dawn's early light ♪ ♪ what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming ♪ ♪ whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight ♪ ♪ o'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming ♪ ♪ and the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air ♪

♪ gave proof through the night that our flag was still there ♪ ♪ o, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave ♪ ♪ o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave ♪ [ applause ]

>> we were listening to the young trio known as identity for pop. now we're preparing to hear remarks from congressman john lewis. let's listen in. >> president and mrs. obama, president clinton, president carter, i want to thank bernice king, the king family, and the national parks service for inviting me here to speak today. when i look out over this diverse crowd and survey the guests on this platform, i seemed to realize what otis redding sang about and what martin luther king jr. preached about, this moment in our

history has been a long-time coming, but a change has come. we are standing here in the shadow of abraham lincoln 150 years after he issued the emancipation proclamation, and only 50 years after the historic march on washington for jobs and freedom. we have come a great distance in this country in the 50 years, but we still have a great distance to go before we fulfill the dream of martin luther king jr. sometimes i hear people saying nothing has changed, but for someone to grow up the way i grew up in alabama, to now be

serving in the united states congress, makes me want to tell them, come and walk in my shoes. come walk in the shoes of those who were attacked by police dogs, fire hoses, and night sticks, arrested and taken to jail. i first came to washington in the same year that president barack obama was born to participate in a freedom ride. in 1961 black and white people could not be seated together on a greyhound bus. so we decided to take an integrated fashion ride from here to new orleans, but we never made it there. over 400 of us were arrested and jailed in mississippi during the freedom ride. a bus was set on fire in alabama. we were beaten and arrested and

jailed, but we helped bring an end to segregation in public transportation. i came back here again in june of 1963 with the big six as the new chairman of the student nonviolent coordinating committee. we met with president kennedy. in 1963, we could not register to vote simply because of the color of our skin. we had to pay a poll tax, pass a so-called literacy test, and count the number of jelly baean in a jar. hundreds of thousands of people were arrested in the south for trying to participate in the democratic process. medgar evers had been killed in mississippi, and that's why we

told president kennedy we intended to march on washington to demonstrate the need for equal justice and equal opportunity in america. on august 28th, 1963, the nation's capital was in a state of emergency. thousands of troops surrounded the city. liquor stores were closed. but the march was so orderly, so peaceful. it was filled with dignity and self-respect because we believed in a way of peace, the way of love, the way of nonviolence. people came that day to that march just like they were on their way to a religious

service. as mahalie jackson sang "how we got over," she drew thousands of us together in a strange sense. it seemed like the whole place started rocking. we truly believed that in every human being, even those who were violent toward us, there was a spark of the divine. and no person had the right to scar or destroy that spark. martin luther king jr. taught us the way of peace, the way of love, the way of nonviolence. he taught us to have the power to forgive, the capacity to be reconciled. he taught us to stand up, to speak up, to speak out, to find a way to get in the way.

people were inspired, and they were willing to put their bodies on the line for a greater cause, greater than themselves. not one incident of violence was reported that day. the spirit of dr. king's words captured the hearts of people not just around america but around the world. on that day martin luther king jr. made a speech, but he also delivered a sermon. he transformed these marble steps of the lincoln memorial into a modern day pulpit. he changed us forever. after the ceremony was over,

president kennedy invited us back down to the white house. he met us standing in the door of the oval office, and he was beaming like a proud father. as he shook the hands of each one of us, he said, you did a good job, you did a good job. and he said to dr. king, and you had a dream. 50 years later we can ride anywhere we want to ride, we can stay where we want to stay. those signs that said white and color are gone, and you won't see them anymore. except in a museum, a book, on a video. but there are still invisible signs, barriers in the hearts of human kind that form a gap

between us. too many of us still believe our differences define us instead of the divine spark that runs through all of human creation. the scars and stains of racism still remain deeply embedded in american society. whether it's stop and frisk in new york or insjustice in the trayvon martin case in florida. the mass incarceration of millions of americans, immigrants hiding in fear in the shadow of our society, unemployment, homelessness, poverty and hunger, or the renewed struggle for voting rights. i say to each one of us today, we must never, ever give up. we must never, ever give in. we must keep the faith and keep our eyes on the prize.

we did go to jail, but we got a civil rights act. we got a voting rights act. we got a fair housing act. but we must continue to push. we must continue to work. as the late a. phillip randolph said, the organizer of the march in 1963, we may have come here on different ships, but we are all in the same boat now. so it doesn't matter whether we are black or white, latino, asian-american, or native american, whether we are gay or straight, we are one people, we are one family, we are all living in the same house, not just american house, but the

world house. and if we finally accept these truths, then we will be able to fulfill dr. king's dream to build a beloved community, a nation and a world at peace with itself. thank you very much. [ applause ] >> congressman john lewis 23 years old when he was there 50 years ago. keith, let me bring you in. he talked about the circumstances. you've investigated cold civil rights cases. he talked about poll taxes. i have a poll tax receipt from one of my relatives in my hand. looking back at that is amazing. >> it's truly remarkable to hear congressman lewis speak today because of the fact of -- >> let me pause you quick. let's listen in to former president jimmy carter. >> i realize that most people know that it's highly unlikely that any of us three over to my right would have served in the white house or be on this

platform had it not been for martin luther king jr. and his movement and his crusade for civil rights. so we are grateful to him for us being here. i'm also proud that i came from the same part of the south as he did. he never lost contact with the folks back home. he was helping tennessee garbage workers when he gave his life to a racist bullet. i remember i was back in the those days. i left georgia for college and the navy. when i came home from submarine duty, i was put on the board of education. i suggested to the other members that we visit all the schools in the county. they had never done this before, and they were reluctant to go with me. but we finally did it. and we found that white children had three nice brick buildings,

but the african-american children had 26 different elementary schools in the county. they were in churches, in front living rooms, and a few in barns. they had so many because there were no school buses for african-american children, and they had to be within walking distance of where they went to class. their school books were outdated and worn out, and every one of them had a white child's name in the front of the book. we finally obtained some buses, and in the state legislature ordained that the front fenders be painted black. not even the school buses could be equal to each other. one of the finest moments of my life was ten months after dr. king's famous speech right here when president lyndon johnson

signed the civil rights act. i was really grateful when they finally adopted me as their presidential candidate in 1976. every handshake from dr. king, danny king, every hug from coretta got me a million yankee votes. danny king prayed at the democratic convention for quite a while, i might say. and coretta was in the hotel room with me and rosalyn when i was elected president. my presidential medal of freedom citation to coretta for dr. king said, and i quoted, he gazed at the great wall of segregation and saw that the power of love could bring it down. he made our nation stronger because he made it better. we were able to create a national historic site where dr.

king lived, worked, and worshipped. it's next door to the center linked together just by walking path. i remember that danny king said, too many people think martin freed only black people. in truth, he helped to free all people. and danny king added, it's not enough to have a right to sit at a lurch counter for you can't afford to buy a meal. and he also said, the ghetto still looks the same, even from the front seat of a bus. perhaps the most challenging statement of martin luther king jr. was, and i quote, the crucial question of our time is how to overcome oppression and

violence without reporting to oppression and violence. in the nobel prize ceremony of 2002, i said that my fellow georgian was, and i quote again, the greatest leader that my native state and perhaps native country has ever produced, and i was not excludeing presidents and even the founding fathers when i said this. i believe we all know how dr. king would have reacted to the new i.d. requirements to exclude certain voters, especially african-americans. i think we all know how dr. king would have reacted to the supreme court striking down a crucial part of the voting rights act just recently passed overwhelmingly by congress. i think we all know how dr. king would have reacted to unemployment among african-americans being almost

twice the rate of white people. for teenagers, at 42%. i think we would all know how dr. king would have reacted to our country being awash in guns and for more and more states passing stand your ground laws. i think we know how dr. king would have reacted for people of the district of columbia still not having full citizenship rights. and i think we all know how dr. king would have reacted to have more than 835,000 african-american men in prison, five times as many as when i left office, and with one-third of all african-american males being destined to be in prison in their lifetimes. well, there's a tremendous agenda ahead of us, and i'm thankful that martin luther king

jr., that his dream is still alive. thank you. [ cheers and applause ] >> former president jimmy carter, who are at the time was a georgia state senator reflecting on the past and of course now the next speaker, bill clinton. let's listen in. >> thank you. mr. president, mrs. obama, president carter, vice president biden, dr. biden, i want to thank my great friend reverend bernice king and the king family for inviting me to be a part of this 50th observation of one of the most important days in american history. dr. king and a. phillip randolph, john lewis, dorothy

heat, daisy bates, and all the others who led this massive march knew what they were doing on this hallowed ground. in the shadow of lincoln's statue, the burning memory of the fact that he gave his life to preserve the union and end slavery, martin luther king urged his crowd not to drink from the cup of bitterness but to reach across the racial divide because he said, we cannot walk alone. their destiny is tied up with our destiny. their freedom is in inextricably bound to our freedom. he urged the victims of racial violence to meet white americans with an outstretched hand, not a clenched fist. and in so doing to prove the

redeeming power of unearned suffering. and then he dreamed of an america where all citizens would sit together at the table of brotherhood, where little white boys and girls and little black boys and girls would hold hands across the color line, where his own children would be judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. this march and that speech changed america. they opened minds. they melted hearts. and they moved millions, including a 17-year-old boy watching alone in his home in arkansas. it was an empowering moment but also an empowered moment.

as the great chronic l ler of those years, taylor branch, wrote, the movement here gained a force to open, quote, the stubborn gates of freedom, and out flowed the civil rights act, the voting rights act, immigration reform, medicare, medicaid, open housing. it is well to remember that the leaders and the foot soldiers here were both idealists and tough realists. they had to be. it was a violent time. just three months later we lost president kennedy. and we thank god that president johnson came in and fought for all those issues i just mentioned. just five years later we lost senator kennedy. in between there was the carnage of the fight for jobs, freedom, and equality. just 18 days after this march,

four little children were killed in the birmingham church bombing. then there were the ku klux klan marches. then dr. king was murdered, still marching for jobs and freedom. what a debt we owe to those people who came here 50 years ago. [ applause ] the martyrs played it all for a dream, a dream as john lewis said that millions have now actually lived. so how are we going to repay the debt? dr. king's dream, his prescription of whole-hearted cooperation across racial line, they ring as true today as they

did 50 years ago. oh, yes, we face terrible political gridlock now. read a little history. it's nothing new. yes, there remain racial inequalities in employment, income, health, wealth, incarceration, and in the victims and perpetrators of violent crime. but we don't face beatings, lynchings, and shootings for our political beliefs anymore. i would respectfully suggest that martin luther king did not live and die to hear his heirs wine about political gridlock. it is time to stop complaining and put our shoulders against the stubborn gates holding the american people back. we cannot be disheartened by the forces of resistance to building modern economy of good jobs and rising incomes or to rebuilding

our education system to give all our children a common core of knowledge necessary to ensure success. or to give americans of all ages access to affordable college and training programs. and we thank the president for his efforts in those regards. we cannot relax in our efforts to implement health care reform in a way that ends discrimination against those with pre-existing conditions, one of which is inadequate income to pay for rising health care. a health care reform that will lower cost and lengthen lives. nor can we stop investing in science and technology to train our young people of all races for the jobs of tomorrow and to act on what we learn about our bodies, our businesses, and our

climate. we must push open those stubborn gates. we cannot be discouraged by a supreme court decision that said we don't need this critical provision of the voting rights act because look at the states. it made it harder for african-americans and hispanics and students and the elderly and the infirm and poor working folks to vote. what do you know? they showed up, stood in line for hours, and voted anyway, so obviously we don't need any kind of law. but a great democracy does not make it harder to vote than to buy an assault weapon. we must open those stubborn gates and let us not forget that while racial divides persist and must not be denied, the whole

american landscape is littered with the lost dreams and dashed hopes of people of all races. and the great irony of the current moment is that the future has never brimmed with more possibilities. it has never burned brighter in what we could become if we push open those stubborn gates and if we do it together. the choice remains as it was on that distant summer day 50 years ago. cooperate and thrive or fight with each other and fall behind. we should all thank god for dr. king and john lewis and all those who gave us a dream to guide us, a dream they paid for like our founders with their lives, their fortunes, their sacred honor. and we thank them for reminding us that america is always

becoming, always on a journey, and we all, every single citizen among us, have to run our lap. god bless them and god bless america. [ cheers and applause ] >> former president bill clinton was 17 years old at the time of dr. king's speech. let me bring you n keith. we heard him talk about the stubborn gates that were pushed open and those who have to take the lap and gave their lives. you've investigated a lot of these civil rights cases, people who worked for this moment. >> yeah, i have to say that is very important to understand those who sacrifice their lives to give us free liberties today. i'm very happy to hear that our former presidents as well as congressman lewis has tapped in on that. it's an important element that we must not forget. >> were it not for those people who gave up their lives, took the bus, walked to get there 50 years ago, we may not have had the courage to do so.

>> exactly. one thing about the significance of this day, august 28th is also the 58th anniversary to the murder of emmett lewis till, who sparked the black resistance in the south. the date itself, a historical fact for you, was chosen by a. phillip randolph to commemorate the murder of emmett till and usher in the new movement they would hope to come. that's what we're seeing today. >> we're hearing now from dr. king's children. you might see in the background the belle that rang at the 16th street baptist church in birmingham, alabama, is in the horizon there. i was there the day barack obama was elected the first time. to be in birmingham, alabama, on the steps of that church that day was incredible. it will be one of 300 sites where bells will ring shortly. we'll hear from president obama very soon. let's listen in now. >> but i'm reminded that dad

challenged us. that's what he did, challenged our nation to be a better nation for all god's children. i'm reminded that he taught us the power of love, agape love, the love that is totally unselfish. you love someone if they're old or young, rich or poor, native american or hispanic american or latino. you love them because god calls us to do that. love and forgiveness is what we need more of, not just in our nation, but really throughout the world. and so i want to rush to tell you that said, the ultimate measure of a human being is where one stands. not in times of comfort and convenience but where he stands in times of challenge and controversy. he went on to say that on some questions, something deep inside

called conscience asked, is the position right? he often talked about sometimes we must take positions that are neither safe nor popular nor politic, but we must take those positions because our conscience tells us they are right. i finally say this afternoon we've got a lot of work to do. but none of us should be tired. why? because we've come much too far from where we started. you see, no one ever told any of us that our roads would be easy, but i know our god, our god, our god did not bring any of us this far to leave us. thank you. god bless you. >> please welcome christine king

ferris. [ applause ] >> thank you. president obama and mrs. obama, former presidents clinton and carter, other distinguished program participants, i am honored to be among you today and to address this historic gathering. i don't know if i am the most senior speaker to address this a assembly today, but i am certainly and surely the only person alive who knew martin luther king jr. when he was a baby.

it has been my great privilege to watch my little brother grow and thrive and develop into a fine man and then a great leader whose legacy continues to inspire countless millions around the world. unfortunately, a flu virus 50 years ago prevented me from attending the original march, but i was able to watch it on television, and i was as awe struck as everyone else. i knew martin was an excellent preacher because i had seen him deliver on many occasions. but on that day, martin achieved greatness because he melded the

hopes and dreams of millions into a grand vision of healing, reconciliation, and brotherhood. the dream my brother shared with our nation and world on that sweltering day, a day 50 years ago, continues to nurture and sustain nonviolent activists worldwide in their struggles for freedom and human rights. indeed, this gathering provides a powerful testament of hope and proved positive that martin's great dream will live on in the heart of humanity for

generations to come. our challenge then as followers of martin luther king jr. is to now honor his life, leadership, and legacy by living our lives in a way that carries forward the unfinished work. there is no better way to honor his sacrifices and contributions than by becoming champions of nonviolence. in our homes and communities, in our places of work, worship and learning, everywhere, every day, the dream martin shared on that day a half century ago remains a definitive statement of the american dream. the beautiful vision of a

diverse, freedom-loving people united in our love for justice, brotherhood, and sisterhood. yes, they can slay the dreamer, but know they cannot destroy his immortal dream. but martin's dream is a vision not yet to be realized. a dream yet unfilled and we have much to do before we can celebrate the dream as a reality as the suppression of voting rights and horrific violence that has taken the life of trayvon martin and young people all across america has so painfully demonstrated. but despite the influences and

challenges we face, we are here today to affirm the dream. we are not going to be discouraged. we are not going to be distracted. we are not going to be defeated. instead, we're going forward into this uncertain future with courage and determination to make the dream a vibrant reality. so the work to fulfill the dream goes on, and despite the daunting challenges we face on the road to the beloved community, i feel that the dream is sinking deep and nourishing roots all across america and around the world.

may it continue to thrive and spread and help bring justice, peace, and liberty to all human. thank you and god bless you all. >> 85-year-old sibling of dr. martin luther king, christine king. she's two years older than dr. king. but you see there his only surviving sibling. we're expecting to hear now from bernice king. let's listen in. >> president obama, mrs. obama, presidents carter and clinton, congressman lewis, ambassador young, to my brother martin iii, dexter scott king, and to my entire family, i was 5 months old when my father delivered his "i have a dream" speech, and i

probably was somewhere crawling on the floor or taking a nap after having a meal. but today is a glorious day because on this program today we have witnessed a manifestation of the beloved community. and we thank everyone for their presence here today. today we have been honored to have three presidents of the united states. 50 years ago the president did not attend. today we are honored to have many women in the planning and mobilization of the 50th anniversary of the march on washington. 50 years ago there was not a single woman on the program. today we are honored to have not just one young person but several young people on the program today. it is certainly a tribute to the

work and the legacy of so many people that have gone on before us. 50 years ago today in the symbolic shadow of this great emancipator, abraham lincoln, my father the great liberator stood in this very spot and declared to this nation his dream to let freedom ring for all people who were being manicled by a system of desegregation. 50 years ago he commissioned us to go back to our various cities, towns, states, and villages and let freedom ring. the reverberation of the sound of that freedom message has amplified and echoed since 1963. through the decades and coast to coast throughout this nation and even around the world.

and some of us were summoned once again back to these hallowed grounds to send out a call to let freedom ring. since that time, as a result of the civil rights act of 1964, the voting rights act of 1965, and the fair housing act in 1968, we have witnessed great strides toward freedom for all, regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, disability, class, or sexual orientation. 50 years later in this year of jubilee, we're standing once again in the shadow of that great emancipator, having been summoned to these hallowed grounds to reverberate the message of that great liberator. for there's a remnant from 1963, congressman lewis, ambassador

young that, still remains, who has come to bequeath that message of freedom to a new generation of people who must now carry that message in their time, in their communities, amongst their tribes, and amongst their nations of the world. we must keep the sound and the message of freedom and justice going. it was my mother, as has been said previously, coretta scott king, who, in fact, 30 years ago was symbolled a coalition of conscience that started us on this whole path of remembering the anniversary of the march on washington. she reminded us that struggle is a never-ending process. freedom is never really won. you earn it and win it in every generation. so we come once again to let freedom ring because if freedom

stops ringing, then the sound will disappear and the atmosphere will be charged with something else. 50 years later we come once again to this special landing on the steps of the lincoln memorial to reflect, to renew, and to rejuvenate for the continued struggle of freedom and justice. for today, 50 years later, my friends, we are still crippled by practices and policies steeped in racial pride, hatred, and hostility, some of which have us standing our ground rather than finding common ground. we are still chained by economic disparities, income and class inequalities, and conditions of poverty, for many of god's children around this nation and the world, we're still bound by a cycle of civil unrest and

inherent social biases in our nation and world that oftentimes degenerates into violence and destruction, especially against women and children. we're at this landing, and now we must break the cycle. the prophet king spoke the vision. he made it plain, and we must run with it in this generation. his prophetic vision and magnificent dream described the yearning of people all over the world to have the freedom to prosper in life, which is the right to pursue one's aspirations, purpose, dreams, well being without oppressive, depressive, repressive practices, behaviors, laws, and conditions that diminish one's dignity and that denies one life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. the freedom to participate in

government, which is the right to have a voice and a say in how you are represented, regulated, and governed without threats of tyranny, disenfranchisement, exclusionary tactics, and behaviors, and to have freedom to peacefully coexist, which is the right to be respected in one's selfhood, individuality, and uniqueness without fear of attack, assault, or abuse. in 1967 my father asked a poignant and critical question. where do we go from here? chaos or community? we say with the resounding voice, no to chaos and yes to community. if we're going to rid ourselves of the chaos, then we must make a necessary shift. nothing is more tragic than for us to fail to achieve new attitudes and new mental outlooks. we have a tremendous and

unprecedented opportunity to reset the very means by which we live, work, and enjoy our lives. if we're going to continue the struggle of freedom and create true community, then we will have to be relentless in exposing, confronting, and ridding ourselves of the mindset of pride and greed and selfishness and hate and lust and fear and idleness and lack of purpose and lack of love, as my brother said, for our neighbor. we must seize this moment. the dawning of a new day, the emergence of a new generation who has postured to change the world through collaborative power facilitated by unconditional love. as i close, i call upon the brother by the name of nehemiah, who was also in the midst of rebuilding a community and in the midst of rebuilding a community, he brought the leaders and the rulers and the

rest of the people together, and he told them that the work is great and large, and we are widely separated one from another on the wall, but when you hear the sound of the trumpet, and might i say when you hear the sound of the bell today, come to that spot and our god will fight with us. so today we're going to let freedom ring all across this nation. we're going to let freedom ring everywhere we go. if freedom is going to ring in libya, in syria, in egypt, in florida, then we must reach across the table, feed each other, and let freedom ring. [ bells tolling ]