Thousands of Americans gathered in the United States capital to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, a pivotal event in the country’s civil rights movement where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic “I have a dream” speech.&nbsp;

<h2>About the march</h2>

On Saturday (August 26), thousands of people marched in the US capital as this year’s rally was held at the Lincoln Memorial which was once the backdrop to King’s impassioned call for equality.&nbsp;

Six decades ago on this day, 250,000 people led by King marched to the US capital in a push to end discrimination on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex or national origin. This time around, various speakers spoke about how King’s dream is now under threat and the fruits of his work at risk.

Speakers at the march include civil rights leaders such as the Reverend Al Sharpton, founder and president of the National Action Network; King’s son Martin Luther King III his granddaughter Yolanda Renee King and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is the first Black lawmaker to lead a party in Congress.&nbsp;

<h2>‘Rights under attack’</h2>

Addressing the crowd on Saturday, Margaret Huang, CEO of the Southern Poverty Law Center, an advocacy group said that the 1963 march – which many credit with the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 – opened doors and spurred new tools to fight racial discrimination.

However, the recent laws throughout the country that “claw away at the right to vote” and target the LGBTQ+ community threaten to erase some of those gains.&nbsp;

“These campaigns against our ballots, our bodies, our school books, they are all connected. When our right to vote falls all other civil and human rights can fall too, but we’re here today to say ‘not on our watch,’” said Huang.&nbsp;

<h2>Distortion of history</h2>

Kimberle Crenshaw, executive director of the African American Policy Forum, said the anniversary this year comes amid a troubling time. “The very history that the march is commemorating is being not only challenged but distorted,” said Crenshaw. She was referring to bans across several mostly Republican US states on books and classroom instruction based on so-called critical race theory (CRT), which views a legacy of racism as shaping American history.&nbsp;

This is in addition to other moves like the removal of an African American Studies course from public schools in the US states of Florida and Arkansas which Crenshaw called it a “concerted effort to silence conversation about that history.”&nbsp;

Jonathan Greenblatt, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, which played a role in the campaign for the Civil Rights Act’s enactment, said that while the US has come a long way since 1963, in terms of the goals imagined by King’s “dream,” recent Supreme Court rulings have proved to be a major setback in that progress.&nbsp;

He referred to recent verdicts on affirmative action and access to abortion. “We’ve seen an expansion of anti-Semitism, we’ve seen an intensification of racism,” said Greenblatt.

<h2>Biden and Harris to meet march organisers at White House</h2>

US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, on Monday (August 28) will meet the organisers of the march at the White House to mark the 1963 meeting between organisers of the original march and the administration of President John F. Kennedy.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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Thousands of Americans gathered in the United States capital to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, a pivotal event in the country’s civil rights movement where Martin Luther King Jr.

Thousands of Americans gathered in the United States capital to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, a pivotal event in the country’s civil rights movement where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic “I have a dream” speech. About the march On Saturday (August 26), thousands of people marched in the US capital as this year’s rally was held at the Lincoln Memorial which was once the backdrop to King’s impassioned call for equality. Six decades ago on this day, 250,000 people led by King marched to the US capital in a push to end discrimination on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex or national origin. This time around, various speakers spoke about how King’s dream is now under threat and the fruits of his work at risk. Speakers at the march include civil rights leaders such as the Reverend Al Sharpton, founder and president of the National Action Network; King’s son Martin Luther King III his granddaughter Yolanda Renee King and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is the first Black lawmaker to lead a party in Congress. ‘Rights under attack’ Addressing the crowd on Saturday, Margaret Huang, CEO of the Southern Poverty Law Center, an advocacy group said that the 1963 march – which many credit with the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 – opened doors and spurred new tools to fight racial discrimination. However, the recent laws throughout the country that “claw away at the right to vote” and target the LGBTQ+ community threaten to erase some of those gains. “These campaigns against our ballots, our bodies, our school books, they are all connected. When our right to vote falls all other civil and human rights can fall too, but we’re here today to say ‘not on our watch,’” said Huang. Distortion of history Kimberle Crenshaw, executive director of the African American Policy Forum, said the anniversary this year comes amid a troubling time. “The very history that the march is commemorating is being not only challenged but distorted,” said Crenshaw. She was referring to bans across several mostly Republican US states on books and classroom instruction based on so-called critical race theory (CRT), which views a legacy of racism as shaping American history. This is in addition to other moves like the removal of an African American Studies course from public schools in the US states of Florida and Arkansas which Crenshaw called it a “concerted effort to silence conversation about that history.” Jonathan Greenblatt, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, which played a role in the campaign for the Civil Rights Act’s enactment, said that while the US has come a long way since 1963, in terms of the goals imagined by King’s “dream,” recent Supreme Court rulings have proved to be a major setback in that progress. He referred to recent verdicts on affirmative action and access to abortion. “We’ve seen an expansion of anti-Semitism, we’ve seen an intensification of racism,” said Greenblatt. Biden and Harris to meet march organisers at White House US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, on Monday (August 28) will meet the organisers of the march at the White House to mark the 1963 meeting between organisers of the original march and the administration of President John F. Kennedy. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Thousands gather to mark 60 years of Martin Luther King’s ‘I have a dream’ speech

A striped feline leaps from a rock under the shade of a tree on a late October morning.&nbsp;

As its front paws touch the ground, the whiskered creature looks up, eyes darting left. A wildlife camera clicks and captures the scene.

It's a cat — and the location isn't a remote rainforest, but the capital of the United States.

The photo is part of the DC Cat Count, a first of its kind, three-year effort by animal welfare advocates, conservationists and scientists to enumerate every Felis catus in Washington.

The team behind the study says it provides an accurate estimate of the size of the city's indoor, outdoor and shelter population.

It found there are about 200,000 cats in the District of Columbia, with about half of them living indoors only, said Tyler Flockhart, a conservation biologist and science lead on the DC Cat Count.

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The other half is a group that includes owned cats with limited or unlimited access outdoors, stray cats, and roughly 3,000 to 4,000 feral cats who avoid interactions with humans, Flockhart said.

"I don't think that you can find another wild mammal — another wild carnivore — that occurs at that density anywhere in the world," he said, of cats and urban environments.&nbsp;

"I think that this is really sort of an interesting idea that we can have so many cats in such a small location."

Consensus for a cat census&nbsp;

The study brought together groups that are often at odds over the impact that outdoor cats have on wildlife and landscape.

While conservationists worry that outdoor cats can decimate bird populations, animal advocates seek to ensure the welfare and safety of cats seeking to survive outside.

"What was really groundbreaking with the DC Cat Count was these organizations coming together," said Stephanie Shain, the chief operating officer of the Humane Rescue Alliance (HRA), which took part in the study.

They were driven by a common purpose "to really focus not on who is right or who has been right, but really focus on getting it right — &nbsp;finding out the information, analyzing the data," she added.&nbsp;

Shain said HRA recommends that cat owners keep their feline friends indoors only in order to keep them safe and avoid damaging wildlife.

"I was pleased to see how many people actually follow that advice," she said.

To count all the cats who call the seat of American power home, researchers surveyed more than 2,600 residents, analyzed animal shelter records, walked along specific routes in search of cats and set up wildlife cameras in more than 1,500 spots.

"This is probably the most thorough analysis of cats of any city in the world," Flockhart said.

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He and other researchers continue to analyse the data collected since 2018 and the research has already led to several peer-reviewed scientific papers.

The DC Cat Count team also made an extensive toolkit available online with protocols and guidelines for organisations wishing to carry out their own cat census. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Besides cats, the camera traps also snapped pictures of numerous animals including squirrels, raccoons, foxes, deer — and even a bobcat.

"There's a huge diversity of wildlife in our cities," Flockhart said.

"We tend to think of it as humans-only, and it could be anything but the case. There are all types of wildlife, from rodents all the way up to large predators."

A striped feline leaps from a rock under the shade of a tree on a late October morning. As its front paws touch the ground, the whiskered creature looks up, eyes darting left.

A striped feline leaps from a rock under the shade of a tree on a late October morning. As its front paws touch the ground, the whiskered creature looks up, eyes darting left. A wildlife camera clicks and captures the scene. It's a cat — and the location isn't a remote rainforest, but the capital of the United States. The photo is part of the DC Cat Count, a first of its kind, three-year effort by animal welfare advocates, conservationists and scientists to enumerate every Felis catus in Washington. The team behind the study says it provides an accurate estimate of the size of the city's indoor, outdoor and shelter population. It found there are about 200,000 cats in the District of Columbia, with about half of them living indoors only, said Tyler Flockhart, a conservation biologist and science lead on the DC Cat Count. Also Read | US warns climate poses ‘emerging threat’ to financial system The other half is a group that includes owned cats with limited or unlimited access outdoors, stray cats, and roughly 3,000 to 4,000 feral cats who avoid interactions with humans, Flockhart said. "I don't think that you can find another wild mammal — another wild carnivore — that occurs at that density anywhere in the world," he said, of cats and urban environments. "I think that this is really sort of an interesting idea that we can have so many cats in such a small location." Consensus for a cat census The study brought together groups that are often at odds over the impact that outdoor cats have on wildlife and landscape. While conservationists worry that outdoor cats can decimate bird populations, animal advocates seek to ensure the welfare and safety of cats seeking to survive outside. "What was really groundbreaking with the DC Cat Count was these organizations coming together," said Stephanie Shain, the chief operating officer of the Humane Rescue Alliance (HRA), which took part in the study. They were driven by a common purpose "to really focus not on who is right or who has been right, but really focus on getting it right — finding out the information, analyzing the data," she added. Shain said HRA recommends that cat owners keep their feline friends indoors only in order to keep them safe and avoid damaging wildlife. "I was pleased to see how many people actually follow that advice," she said. To count all the cats who call the seat of American power home, researchers surveyed more than 2,600 residents, analyzed animal shelter records, walked along specific routes in search of cats and set up wildlife cameras in more than 1,500 spots. "This is probably the most thorough analysis of cats of any city in the world," Flockhart said. Also Read | Coronavirus: NIH admits to US funding of gain-of-function research in Wuhan lab He and other researchers continue to analyse the data collected since 2018 and the research has already led to several peer-reviewed scientific papers. The DC Cat Count team also made an extensive toolkit available online with protocols and guidelines for organisations wishing to carry out their own cat census. Besides cats, the camera traps also snapped pictures of numerous animals including squirrels, raccoons, foxes, deer — and even a bobcat. "There's a huge diversity of wildlife in our cities," Flockhart said. "We tend to think of it as humans-only, and it could be anything but the case. There are all types of wildlife, from rodents all the way up to large predators."

Washington, District of Cats: US capital first city to count its felines

White House advisor and President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka is facing criticism for calling pro-Trump rioters that stormed the US Capitol as ''patriots'' on social networking platform Twitter.

Taking to Twitter, Ivanka addressed the angry Trump supporters in a tweet saying&nbsp;''American Patriots-any security breach or disrespect to our law enforcement is unacceptable. The violence is unacceptable. Please be respectful.''

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Ivanka did not ask Trump supporters&nbsp;to abandon their demonstration at the US Capitol building. When questioned upon the use of the term ''patriots'' she justified her choice of words.

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No. Peaceful protest is patriotic. Violence is unacceptable and must be condemned in the strongest terms. <a href="https://t.co/GwngZTqzTH">https://t.co/GwngZTqzTH</a>
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/IvankaTrump/status/1346916905093894144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2021</a></blockquote>
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We were always told that <a href="https://twitter.com/IvankaTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IvankaTrump</a> was going to be the “voice of reason” for her father. Instead, she’s just as complicit. 
 
You can delete the tweet, but you calling rioters “American Patriots” will live on! <a href="https://t.co/0G8SGvH4fE">pic.twitter.com/0G8SGvH4fE</a>
— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) <a href="https://twitter.com/AprilDRyan/status/1346922912117383170?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Hundreds of President Donald&nbsp;Trump's supporters stormed the US&nbsp;Capitol on Wednesday in a bid to overturn his election defeat, occupying the symbol of American democracy and forcing Congress to suspend a session to certify President-elect Joe Biden's victory.

Police evacuated lawmakers and struggled for more than three hours after the invasion to clear the Capitol of&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;supporters, who surged through the hallways and rummaged through offices in shocking scenes of chaos and disorder.

One woman died after being shot during the mayhem, Washington police said. The FBI said it had disarmed two suspected explosive devices.

The assault on the Capitol was the culmination of months of divisive and escalating rhetoric around the November&nbsp;3 election, with&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;repeatedly making false claims that the vote was rigged and urging his supporters to help him overturn his loss.

The chaotic scenes unfolded after&nbsp;Trump, who before the election refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he lost, addressed thousands of supporters near the White House and told them to march on the Capitol to express their anger at the voting process.

He told his supporters to pressure their elected officials to reject the results, urging them "to fight."

White House advisor and President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka is facing criticism for calling pro-Trump rioters that stormed the US Capitol as ''patriots'' on social networking platform Twitter.

White House advisor and President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka is facing criticism for calling pro-Trump rioters that stormed the US Capitol as ''patriots'' on social networking platform Twitter. Taking to Twitter, Ivanka addressed the angry Trump supporters in a tweet saying ''American Patriots-any security breach or disrespect to our law enforcement is unacceptable. The violence is unacceptable. Please be respectful.'' Ivanka did not ask Trump supporters to abandon their demonstration at the US Capitol building. When questioned upon the use of the term ''patriots'' she justified her choice of words. No. Peaceful protest is patriotic. Violence is unacceptable and must be condemned in the strongest terms. https://t.co/GwngZTqzTH — Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) January 6, 2021 × We were always told that @IvankaTrump was going to be the “voice of reason” for her father. Instead, she’s just as complicit. You can delete the tweet, but you calling rioters “American Patriots” will live on! pic.twitter.com/0G8SGvH4fE — AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) January 6, 2021 × Hundreds of President Donald Trump's supporters stormed the US Capitol on Wednesday in a bid to overturn his election defeat, occupying the symbol of American democracy and forcing Congress to suspend a session to certify President-elect Joe Biden's victory. Police evacuated lawmakers and struggled for more than three hours after the invasion to clear the Capitol of Trump supporters, who surged through the hallways and rummaged through offices in shocking scenes of chaos and disorder. One woman died after being shot during the mayhem, Washington police said. The FBI said it had disarmed two suspected explosive devices. The assault on the Capitol was the culmination of months of divisive and escalating rhetoric around the November 3 election, with Trump repeatedly making false claims that the vote was rigged and urging his supporters to help him overturn his loss. The chaotic scenes unfolded after Trump, who before the election refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he lost, addressed thousands of supporters near the White House and told them to march on the Capitol to express their anger at the voting process. He told his supporters to pressure their elected officials to reject the results, urging them "to fight."

Ivanka Trump faces criticism for calling pro-Trump mob 'patriots'

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Thousands gather to mark 60 years of Martin Luther King’s ‘I have a dream’ speech

Washington, District of Cats: US capital first city to count its felines

Ivanka Trump faces criticism for calling pro-Trump mob 'patriots'