Cross-posted from DC Independent Media Center Written by Luke

On the 7th of August, Mayor Gray and city officials joined with the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington Commemorative Committee for a press conference to announce the upcoming events of August 24. The main event is at the Lincoln Memorial in the morning.

One of the organizers gave a speech condemning voter ID laws, other voter suppression and the Zimmerman verdict as examples that the problems King marched against 50 years ago are still alive and well in the US.

One of the organizers gave a speech condemning voter ID laws, other voter suppression, and the Zimmerman verdict as examples that the problems King marched against 50 years ago are still alive and well in the US.

Present in the audience were several members of groups opposing Wal-Mart, who hope that Mayor Gray will not buckle under to Wal-Mart and will sign the Large Retailer Accountability Act or LRAA. They were present so the Mayor could see them, but took no action due to the nature of the event.

The LRAA would force Wal-Mart, Target, Home Depot,etc to pay $12.50 an hour in wages and benefits. Wal-Mart is demanding a veto, saying they will pull out of DC otherwise. Given that one of the demands of the original 1963 March on Washington was to raise the minimum wage, it would be highly inappropriate for the Mayor to veto the LRAA after his planned appearance in this 50th anniversary commemoration rally.

Hopefully the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s March on Washington, and the historical reality of his campaign for living wage jobs will be all the reminder the Mayor needs to sign the LRAA when the council sends it to his desk.

Major events planned for 50th anniversary of MLK March on Washington:

50th Anniversary March on Washington

Saturday August 24.

The rally will be held at the Lincoln Memorial from 8 am.-4 p.m. and the festival will be held on the National Mall from 2-6 p.m.

DC Statehood Rally

August 24, 2013

9 a.m. DC War Memorial, Independence Avenue, NW. Washington DC.

March for Jobs and Justice August 28, 2013. The march will begin at 9:30 a.m. Participants will assemble at 600 New Jersey Avenue, Washington DC at 8 a.m. and proceed to the United States Department of Labor at 200 Constitution Avenue, then to the United States Department of Justice at 950 Pennsylvania Avenue and ending at a rally on the National Mall.