Thousands march for racial equality in Washington

Thousands march for racial equality in Washington

Thousands of people took part in a march in Washington on Friday to denounce racism, on the anniversary of the march in 1963 where civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr made his historic "I Have a Dream" speech.

This report produced by Jillian Kitchener.

BLAKE: "There are two systems of justice in the United States.

There's a white system and there's a black system.

The black system ain't doing so well.

But we’re going to stand up.” Less than a week after police officers shot his son, Jacob Blake, multiple times in front of his children… Jacob Blake Senior told thousands gathered on the National Mall in Washington, DC that he would ‘hold court’ on systemic racism.

“Racism against all of us.

Guilty.

Guilty.” Family members who lost loved ones, activists and politicians gathered, Friday, to denounce racism, on the anniversary of the March on Washington in 1963... In the same place where civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr made his historic 'I Have a Dream' speech.

A massive crowd moved from the Lincoln Memorial to the Martin Luther King Memorial, many holding signs that said "Black Lives Matter" and "racism is our longest plague." SHARPTON: ”You might have killed the dreamer, but you can't kill the dream.” Rev.

Al Sharpton and his National Action Network organized the event - first announced at the funeral of George Floyd… a Black man who died this year when a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.

And on Friday - George Floyd’s brother gave an emotional tribute to other Black people killed by cops: FLOYD: “I’m marching for George, for Brianna, for Ahmad, for Jacob, for Pamela Turner..." KING: “We must become the heroes of the history we are making…” Martin Luther King III gave an impassioned speech in the very same spot his father did 57 years ago.

KING: “We must become the heroes of the history we are making…” The march comes amid the coronavirus pandemic, in which Black people have suffered disproportionately.

SHARPTON: “Don’t get so close.

Ya’ll spread your arms and socially distance.” Sharpton - and many guests - called for political change, stressing the importance of voting in November’s election… “If we gotta march every day, if we gotta vote every day, we - will - get - your - knee - off - our - neck.

Enough is enough.”