Bayard Rustin displays and explains a detailed map of the March on Washington route, addressing logistical and strategic planning to organizers and media ahead of the historic event.
In preparation for the March on Washington, Rustin faced persistent challenges from the National Park Service and Washington, D.C. officials, including last-minute denials of preferred routes, debates over rally sites, and restrictions on march size and sound equipment. Negotiating with the parks department was a crucial part of the organizing process: Rustin’s insistence on the Lincoln Memorial as the focal point—and his meticulous approach to crowd movement, security, and access—turned bureaucratic obstacles into a demonstration of disciplined mass protest. The final route not only ensured the march’s high visibility and impact but also set a precedent for future protest planning in the nation’s capital.
NBC News, “Civil Rights Leaders’ Legacy Remembered on March on Washington’s 60th Anniversary,” accessed September 12, 2025, https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/civil-rights-leaders-legacy-remembered-march-washingtons-60th-ann
