9 things about MLK's speech and the March on Washington

By Jim Polk and Alicia Stewart, CNN

Updated 1850 GMT (0150 HKT) August 28, 2013

Color photos from 1963 march18 photos

Color photos from 1963 March on Washington – The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. addresses a crowd near the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963. On the 50th anniversary of this historic civil rights event, we take a look back through rarely-seen color photographs from the day.

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Color photos from 1963 march18 photos

Color photos from 1963 March on Washington – Civil rights protesters clap and cheer. An estimated 250,000 people participated in the march.

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Color photos from 1963 march18 photos

Color photos from 1963 March on Washington – Leadersof the rally, including King in the center, interlock hands and arms as they march. The march was organized jointly by James Farmer, of the Congress of Racial Equality; Dr. King, of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference; John Lewis, of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee; A. Philip Randolph, of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters; Roy Wilkins, of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; and Whitney Young, Jr., of the National Urban League.

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Color photos from 1963 march18 photos

Color photos from 1963 March on Washington – Protesters sing at the march.

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Color photos from 1963 march18 photos

Color photos from 1963 March on Washington – A protester sings at the march.

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Color photos from 1963 march18 photos

Color photos from 1963