The March on Washington occurred as over 250,000 persons attended a Civil Rights rally in Washington, D.C., at which Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. made his now-famous I Have a Dream speech.

TODAY’S PATRIOT

Medgar Evers (1925–1963) – A WWII veteran and field secretary for the NAACP in Mississippi, Medgar Evers dedicated his life to fighting segregation and securing voting rights for African Americans. He organized voter registration drives, investigated racially motivated crimes, and pushed for integration in education and public services. Evers was assassinated in his driveway by a white supremacist—his death became a national rallying cry for civil rights reform. His life and sacrifice represent the high cost of defending American ideals of liberty and justice for all.

Just hours before his assassination, Evers appeared on a local TV station, speaking out about the NAACP’s efforts in Mississippi. He was under constant death threats and had instructed his family on how to react if he were killed. Despite the danger, he continued his work with extraordinary courage. His assassin wasn’t convicted until 1994, after decades of legal battles, highlighting the long arc of justice.