List of political rallies on the National Mall

This list of political rallies on the National Mall shows the variety of expression of notable political views which have been located somewhere between the United States Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial. The Mall is regulated by the National Park Service which is required to respect the free speech rights of Americans.

Following a controversy over the Million Man March in 1995, the National Park Service stopped releasing crowd size estimates for rallies on the National Mall.[1] Crowd estimates after that point have come from protest organizers, researchers or news outlets. Depending on the methodology, estimates can differ greatly.[2] This table is incomplete, but focuses on the larger events.

namedatesizecomments
Bonus Army1932-06-1720,000World War I veterans and their families seeking advance payment of bonuses from the Hoover administration; several killed.
Marian Anderson concert1939-04-0975,000Integrated concert at Lincoln Memorial held in defiance of DAR refusal to host her performance[3]
Prayer Pilgrimage for Freedom1957-05-1725,000First large demonstration in Washington of the African-American Civil Rights Movement on 3rd anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education.
March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom1963-08-28250,000 March at which Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I Have A Dream" speech.
Solidarity Day, part of the Poor People's Campaign1968-06-1950,000–100,000 Juneteenth Rally for economic justice, during which tens of thousands joined the Resurrection City shantytown established on the Mall in May.[4]
Honor America Day1970-07-0425,000A rally put together by supporters of President Richard Nixon hosted by Bob Hope[5]
1971 May Day Protests1971-04-24 500,000 Called for an end to the Vietnam War.
Million Man March1995-10-16400,000March to rally unity and voter registration among African Americans. United States Park Police officially estimated the crowd size at 400,000.
Million Mom March2000-05-14750,000 March against gun violence.[6]
Restoring Honor Rally2010-08-2880,000Cosponsored by Special Operations Warrior Foundation and promoted as a "celebration of America's heroes and heritage." The number of attendees is disputed.
One Nation Working Together March for Jobs, Peace and Justice2010-10-0250,000Rally at the Lincoln Memorial to press for immigration reform, financial reform.[7]
Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear2010-10-30215,000Held by Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert to oppose radical political trends in US politics.[8]

See also

References

  1. Markman, Joe (September 15, 2009). "Crowd estimates vary wildly for Capitol march". The Los Angeles Times.
  2. New York Times, April 9, 1993
  3. "50,000 Hear Leader of Poor Vow to Keep Resurrection City in Capital: Cheer Made By King's Widow for End of War". Toledo Blade. AP. 20 June 1968. pp. 1, 8. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
  4. "Nation: Gathering in Praise of America". TIME Magazine. July 13, 1970. Retrieved 2010-11-02.
  5. About us at Million Mom March website
  6. Greenhouse, Steven (October 2, 2010). "Liberal Groups Rally, Challenging Tea Party". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-11-02.
  7. Montopoli, Brian (2010-10-30). "Jon Stewart Rally Attracts Estimated 215,000". CBS News.
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