Thousands are expected to congregate in Washington, DC on Friday for the March on Washington 2020, on the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" Speech. Speeches are set to take place from 11am to 1pm, and the main march will take place from 1pm to 3pm, beginning at the Lincoln Memorial and ending at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.
Organizers are calling the march the "'Get Off Our Necks' Commitment March on Washington" and are using the platform for police accountability reform and other civil rights.
Rev. Al Sharpton, Martin Luther King III, a son of the late civil rights icon, attorney Benjamin Crump and the families of George Floyd, Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Ahmaud Arbery, Jacob Blake and Breonna Taylor, are expected to participate in Washington.
Plan ahead
Let your friends and family know you’re going to the march and consider bringing someone with you. Decide a location and time where everyone can meet up if your group gets separated.
Review coronavirus travel restrictions and precautions
If you are traveling to Washington, D.C., review all coronavirus travel and health related information online.
In late July, with local infection numbers rising, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered anyone traveling or returning to Washington from a virus hot spot to self-quarantine for 14 days. The list of hot spots is revised every two weeks and the newest list, released on Aug. 10, included these 29 states.
Organizers will distribute masks, have thermometer check-in stations and practicing social distancing. NAN leaders say they will provide hand sanitizer and will require participants to wear masks.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released guidelines in June for safely attending events and gatherings.
Prep your smartphone
Fully charge your phone before the march, but in case it dies, write emergency contact numbers on an index card or even your arm. To make it easier to communicate at the march, consider downloading an app such as FireChat, which allows you to instant message without using data or Wi-Fi within a 200-foot range. Organizers are encouraging people to use #NANMOW2020 to share images and videos from the protest on social media.
What to bring
Bring only the essentials: your ID, cash, a bank card, your phone and a portable charger if you have one. It's also important to stay hydrated and full, so bring a plastic water bottle and pack shareable, healthy snacks.
And don’t forget your signs! Flags are allowed, but cannot be on a pole. Posters and signs can't have wooden sign posts, but organizers encourage people to use cardboard sign posts.
Know your rights
Whether you’re a citizen or not, the First Amendment protects your constitutional right to demonstrate peacefully. You also have the right to photograph or film police. Police can pat you down to make sure you’re unarmed, but unless you are under arrest, you can refuse to consent to a search.
The following streets will be posted as 'Emergency No Parking' from approximately 12:00 am to 11:59 pm:
- Constitution Avenue from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to 18th Street, NW
- Pennsylvania Avenue from 3rd Street, NW to 18th Street, NW
- Independence Avenue from 3rd Street, NW to 23rd Street, SW
- Connecticut Avenue from H Street, NW to L Street, NW
- Vermont Avenue from H Street, NW to L Street, NW
- I Street from 12th Street, NW to 18th Street, NW
- H Street from 12th Street, NW to 18th Street, NW
- K Street from 12th Street, NW to 18th Street, NW
- New York Avenue from 12th Street, NW to 15th Street, NW
- 17th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to L Street, NW
- 16th Street From H Street, NW to O Street, NW
- 15th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to L Street, NW
- 14th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to K Street, NW
- 13th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to E Street, NW
- 12th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to E Street, NW
- 11th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to E Street, NW
- 10th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to E Street, NW
- 9th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- 7th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to E Street, NW
- 6th Street from Constitution Avenue, NW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- 4th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- 3rd Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- 23rd Street from E Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
- Virginia Avenue from 23rd Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
- E Street from 23rd Street, NW to 18th Street, NW
- New York Avenue from 18th Street, NW to 17th Street, NW
- 20th Street from E Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
- 21st Street from E Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
- 19th Street from E Street, NW to Constitution Avenue, NW
- C Street from 18th Street, NW to Virginia Avenue, NW
- C Street from Virginia Avenue, NW to 21st Street, NW
- D Street from 18th Street, NW to 17th Street, NW
- Madison Street from 3rd Street, NW to 15th Street, NW
- Jefferson Street from 3rd Street, NW to 15th Street, NW
The following streets will be restricted to vehicular traffic from approximately 6:00 am to 11:59 pm:
- Independence Avenue, SW from 14th Street to Ohio Drive, SW
- 23rd Street, NW from Constitution Avenue, NW to Memorial Bridge
- Henry Bacon Drive, NW from Constitution Avenue to Lincoln Memorial Circle, NW
- Constitution Avenue from 12th Street to 18th Street, NW
- Southbound Rock Creek Parkway will be closed at Virginia Avenue, NW
- Maine Avenue, SW will be closed at I-395 to all westbound traffic
- Access to East Potomac Park from I-395 will be by National Park Service permit only
- 18th Street, NW from E Street to Constitution Avenue, NW
- 17th Street, NW from L Street to Independence Avenue, SW
- 16th Street, NW from L Street to I Street, NW
- 15th Street, NW from L Street to Independence Avenue, SW
- 14th Street, NW from L Street to Independence Avenue, SW
- 13th Street, NW from L Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- New York Avenue from 11th Street, NW to 15th Street, NW
- Vermont Avenue from L Street, NW to H Street, NW
- Connecticut Avenue from L Street, NW to H Street, NW
- I Street, NW from 12th Street to 18th Street, NW
- H Street, NW from 12th Street to 18th Street, NW
- G Street from 12th Street, NW to 15th Street, NW and 17th Street to 18th Street
- F Street, NW from 12th Street, NW to 15th Street, NW and 17th Street to 18th Street
- E Street, NW from 12th Street, NW to 15th Street, NW and 17th Street to 18th Street
- D Street, NW from 17th Street to 18th Street
- Pennsylvania Avenue, NW from 12th Street, NW to 15th Street, NW and 17th Street to 18th Street, NW
These businesses are opening their doors to protesters this weekend, providing shelter, food, water, restrooms and basic first aid. Visit DCist.com for the most up-to-date information.
- Woolly Mammoth: 641 D St. NW will be open on Friday from 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. for protesters. The theatre is also accepting monetary donations to the Venmo account @ProtesterSafeSpaceDC.
- Arena Stage: 1101 6th St. SW will open its lobby from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday for refreshments and rest. Staff will be assisting to ensure social distancing.
- Luther Place:1 226 Vermont Ave. NW will be providing supplies, bathrooms, and charging stations in an outdoor tent on Friday from 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., on Saturday from 3 p.m. – 11 p.m., and on Sunday from 3 p.m. – 8 p.m. Donations and distribution of supplies can be coordinated through an on-call protest support line. The organizers are currently in need of face masks and Gatorade.
- New York Avenue Presbyterian Church: 1313 New York Ave. NW will be open to provide water and bathrooms to protesters from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday. Only six people or fewer will be allowed inside the building at one time to accommodate social distancing.
- 9:30 Club: 815 V St. NW will be open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Saturday for protesters. Water, first aid, hand sanitizer, charging stations, and bathrooms will be available. Masks and social distancing are required.
- Studio Theatre: 1501 14th St. NW will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday for protesters, offering shelter, bathrooms, and drinks and snacks. Masks will be required, and social distancing will be enforced.