Demonstrations and Marches

Since the beginning of the Republic, the American village common has been the gathering place for Americans to share views, debate, muster militia, celebrate, and protest.  The Mall between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial provides a dramatic backdrop for America's Common. Washington has been the scene for many major national gatherings since the end of the Civil War.  Ollie Atkins covered the major Washington demonstrations first for the Saturday Evening Post, then as official White House photographer during the Nixon Administration.  In addition to photographing the demonstrations, speeches, and marches, Atkins captured the personal element of the participants, who came to the nation's capital to exercise their common First Amendment rights to assemble and to petition the government peaceably as Americans.

Civil Rights March - 1963

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1. Crowd in front of the Lincoln Memorial.
2. Labor group at March.
3. Vendor selling pennants.

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4. Marching down Constitution Avenue.
5. Actor Charlton Heston and singer Harry Belafonte.
6. Crowds around the Mall.

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7. Marchers resting and soaking their feet in the Reflecting Pool.
8. Singer and actor, Sammy Davis, Jr.
9. Local Virginia group from Loudoun County on the Mall.

Women's March for Peace - 1968

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10. Women holding a banner in front of the Capitol.
11. Folk singer Judy Collins (with guitar) and Swedish film star, Viveca.

Poor Peoples' March on Washington - 1968

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12. Workers making picket signs in Resurrection City.
13. A family living in Resurrection City.
14. Poor Peoples' March Organizer, Reverend Jesse Jackson.

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15. Resurrection City barber shop.
16. Volunteers making bread.
17. Volunteers distributing picket signs.

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18. Resurrection City day care center.
19. Volunteer construction workers.
20. Religious groups at the March.

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21. Residents at lunch.
22. Resurrection City after a rain shower.
23. Distribution of donated clothing.

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24. Residents outside one of the makeshift houses.
25. Resurrection City at dusk.
26. A soldier carries a child that collapsed at a Justice Department demonstration.

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27. A family living in Resurrection City.
28. More groups at the March.
29. Young girl getting water from a spigot.

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30. Aerial views of riot damage in Washington D.C.