Key facts
- Thousands are expected to march in Washington on Friday.
- The march is organized by Al Sharpton's National Action Network and Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King's Drum Major Institute.
- The event aims to protest against a "systemic rollback of civil rights" and defend voting rights.
- Organizers cite the Supreme Court's weakening of a key Voting Rights Act provision and President Donald Trump's efforts to curb mail-in voting.
- Speakers include Senator Bernie Sanders and Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Yvette Clarke.
Thousands are expected to gather in Washington on Friday for a march aimed at defending voting rights and protesting against what organizers describe as a "systemic rollback of civil rights." The event, titled "March on Washington 2026: Defend the Vote," is organized by Al Sharpton's National Action Network and Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King's Drum Major Institute, along with over 90 community partner organizations including the NAACP and National Urban League.
Civil rights leaders plan to retrace Martin Luther King Jr.'s path and echo his demands for equality, emphasizing that the fight for justice remains unfinished. Martin Luther King III stated, “Defending the vote means defending the foundation of our democracy,” and that the march is necessary 63 years after his father's historic speech.
The march comes in the wake of the Supreme Court weakening a key provision of the Voting Rights Act, which has led to redistricting battles in the South. Organizers also point to President Donald Trump's efforts to curb mail-in voting and weaken anti-discrimination protections as reasons for the demonstration.
Confirmed speakers for the event include U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders and Democratic Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Yvette Clarke. Arndrea Waters King described the march as a "moral call to protect democracy for every generation."