Scenes from the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington

PBS NewsHour live video via Ustream.

As my colleagues report, tens of thousands of people from across the country streamed onto the National Mall on Saturday for a daylong celebration of the upcoming 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

It was on Aug. 28, 1963, that Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. The speech and the march helped bring about passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Busloads of people from around the country began arriving this week for Saturday’s rally and speeches from Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., Representative Nancy Pelosi, the Rev. Al Sharpton and others. Saturday’s march is one of several events planned this month that include a speech by President Obama at the Lincoln Memorial on Wednesday.

From just before dawn, people began sharing images on Twitter and other social media platforms from Washington, D.C.

@HowardU makes it to the national mall for the 50th anniversary of the ’63 March on Washington. we’re here! http://t.co/2DBksFunhk

â€" Greg Carr (@AfricanaCarr) 24 Aug 13

RT @AFTunion: Cleveland Teachers Union members join March on Washington to reclaim promise of public #edu. #reclaimit http://t.co/i7PgKyD9zB

â€" Tarsi Dunlop (@TarsiDunlop) 24 Aug 13

My view of the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. #ihaveadream #mlk #jobsandfreedom http://t.co/fduSYLMGZd

â€" Cyprian Bowlding (@cypavs) 24 Aug 13

New York Times readers offered their recollections of attending the march 50 years ago. Some people returned to the Lincoln Memorial on Saturday.

Rudolph Tobin marched in the March on Washington in 1963. 50 years later he’s marching again! #mow50 #mow2013 http://t.co/0UTOiIfICX

â€" Erica Hilton (@ericahltn) 24 Aug 13

For those unable to go to Washington, @MillionHoodies, an organization founded after the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, is leading what it calls a “virtual march” online.

The March has begun. #hoodies up. http://t.co/azR5XJ8lmq

â€" #MillionHoodies (@MillionHoodies) 24 Aug 13

Mr. Obama, who is not participating in Saturday’s event, will be joined by former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter when he speaks on the actual anniversary on Wednesday.