American human rights activist and philanthropist, leader in civil rights advocacy
Civil rights leaders have announced a major demonstration in Washington, D.C. for Aug. 28, marking the 63rd anniversary of the 1963 march. The event, led by Rev. Al Sharpton and Martin Luther King III, aims to press Congress after a Supreme Court ruling tightened voting rights protections and spurred state redistricting.
The 2026 Defend the Vote march echoes 1963 protests as civil rights leaders warn that Supreme Court rulings and new redistricting maps threaten Black political power and voting access. Organizers rally across the Southeast and encourage turnout despite ongoing debates over voting protections.