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45th Anniversary of “I Have a Dream” Speech

Forty-five years ago today, 250,000 spectators witnessed “the greatest demonstration for freedom” in the history of the United States when Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech.

He told attendees at the March on Washington that after nearly 100 years of emancipation African Americans still weren’t free. Remaining optimistic, King had a dream for America.

“Even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream,” King said. “It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.”

In his speech King said he wanted unity, justice and equal opportunity for all people in America regardless of race.

“We refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation,” he said. “So we have come to cash this check – a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.”

To relive Kings’ speech see video below.