°Ä²Ê¿ª½± CEO addresses crowd before March on Washington
Sixty years after the historic March on Washington, the nation grapples with many challenges. Margaret Huang, the president and CEO of the °Ä²Ê¿ª½± (°Ä²Ê¿ª½±), took the stage as a speaker at Saturday’s March on Washington, addressing these pressing issues and the need for legislative action to safeguard U.S. democracy.
This year’s march is taking place in a significantly changed United States. Affirmative action policies for colleges have been under scrutiny and faced legal challenges. Abortion rights have been increasingly restricted, raising concerns about reproductive freedom. Most alarmingly, political violence and hatred have surged, disproportionately targeting people of color, Jews and the LGBTQ community.
The event’s primary goal is to advocate for legislative measures that will strengthen the foundations of U.S. democracy. Against the backdrop of these pressing issues, Huang delivered a powerful address, calling for unity, understanding and concrete steps toward a more equitable and just society. In a time of uncertainty, the call for legislative action to protect and preserve U.S. democracy resounds more strongly than ever.
Margaret Huang, °Ä²Ê¿ª½± CEO and president, addresses a crowd from the Lincoln Memorial during ceremonies Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023, ahead of the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington.
Eric Lee
Huang delivered ‘a clarion call to our elected leaders.’
Eric Lee
Huang addressed the crowd from the foot of the Lincoln Memorial.
Eric Lee
Huang recalled how 60 years ago, ‘hundreds of thousands of people gathered on these same grounds and changed the course of history.’
Eric Lee
Huang called out the recent landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in Allen v. Milligan out of Alabama, ‘which requires fair representation for the state’s Black residents.’
Eric Lee
From the foot of the Lincoln Memorial, Huang said, ‘We’re here to demand the right that belongs to us all — the right to vote!’
Eric Lee
‘We’re here to urge our representatives to pass, with all deliberate speed, the Freedom to Vote Act and to restore the Voting Rights Act to its full power,’ Huang told the crowd.
Eric Lee
Huang urged legislators to push forward voting reform. ‘No more delays! The time to act is now!’
Eric Lee
Huang greets Martin Luther King III, the eldest son of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., before he delivered remarks Saturday.
Eric Lee
Huang (center) with Congresswoman Terri Sewell (left), Congressman James Clyburn (right) and Congresswoman Joyce Beatty.
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Huang with Maya Wiley, president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights (left), and Wade Henderson, senior adviser for The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.
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Huang (center) joins the march, following speeches.
Eric Lee
