March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom

Timeline Events

1. January 25, 1941

   Randolph Announces Labor March on Washington

   A. Philip Randolph announces a march on Washington intended to end segregation in the booming war-time defense industry. Randolph’s march was scheduled for June 26, 1941.

2. June 25, 1941

   FDR issues Executive Order 8802

   President Franklin D. Roosevelt issues Executive Order 8802. It declared, “There shall be no discrimination in the employment of workers in defense industries and in Government, because of race, creed, color, or national origin.”

3. May 24, 1962

   Randolph Requests Permission for March

   Randolph writes to the Secretary of the Department of the Interior, Stewart Udall, to request permits for a march in the coming fall. Secretary Udall, however, encouraged the group to rethink the route they intended to take to avoid complication with rerouting traffic and tourists.

4. March 26, 1963

   Randolph Shared March Plan with King

   Randolph telegraphs Martin Luther King, Jr. to inform him the Negro American Labor Council has begun planning a march to highlight continuing job inequity.

5. May 7, 1963

   Public Call for a March

   Randolph, King, and other organizers call for a march later in the year.

6. June 11, 1963

   President Kennedy Addresses Civil Rights

   President John F. Kennedy speaks to the American Public about Civil Rights in a presidential address broadcast over television and radio.

7. June 19, 1963

   Kennedy Calls for Passage of Civil Rights Act

   President John F. Kennedy presses Congress to act on Civil Rights, framing the issue as threat to America’s safety and standing both domestically and internationally.

8. June 22, 1963

   Kennedy and Civil Rights Leaders Discuss the March

   The March is discussed during a meeting between President Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and civil rights activists at the White House.

9. July 2, 1963

   Big Six Meet in NYC

   The “Big Six” meet at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York to work out details of the March.

10. August 1, 1963

    March Announced to the Public

    The March is officially announced to the public.

11. August 16, 1963

    White House Letter Indicated Support

    A letter from President Kennedy’s office indicates his support of a peaceful assembly in the form of a “march” in Washington. This letter was written in response to one of the many communications received from Americans who were opposed to or concerned by the plans for the March on Washington.

12. August 28, 1963

    250,000 People March

    250,000 people converge on Washington for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

13. August 29, 1963

    Height Gathers Women

    Dorothy Height convenes a group of women to talk about their participation in the Civil Rights movement.