Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. It was August 28, 1963. About 250,000 people had gathered. They listened as King gave one of the most famous speeches of all time, “I Have a Dream.” King said he dreamed of a nation where everyone was treated equally.
King was one of the most well-known leaders of the civil rights movement. His words and actions inspired many people during this long struggle to gain equal rights for Black Americans. He held nonviolent protests to bring about change. He gave powerful speeches that led countless people to join him in working toward equality.
Since 2011, a permanent tribute to King and his dream has stood not far from where he gave his most famous speech. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. It includes a 450-foot-long stone wall with 14 famous quotes by King. At the center stands a 30-foot-tall sculpture of him called the Stone of Hope.