A march for jobs and justice to MLK monument

The Reverend Al Sharpton’s National Action Network , the NAACP and others have called for a march for ‘Jobs and Justice’ in DC August 27^th.

The march will end at the new Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. monument.

The 30-foot tall monument of the late civil rights giant was recently unveiled to the public to great acclaim, and stands between the Jefferson and Lincoln memorials. The statue was carved of granite by Lei Yixin, a Chinese sculptor.

Also marching Saturday with Reverend Sharpton will be Martin Luther King III, Tom Joyner, CEO of the National Urban League Marc Morial, and NAACP President Ben Jealous. Labor leaders and clergy will also be speaking at the event and calling for a solution to the unemployment problem in America.

Speaking of King and the march, the National Action Network said, “It was his work for civil rights and labor rights that made him the historic figure he has become. It was near the grounds of his monument that he was planning a tent city for poor people when he was killed. NAN will use the occasion of August 27^th to raise this unfinished business and challenge those that seek to undo what Dr. King tried to do for working people and labor in this country.”

At the announcement of the march, Reverend Sharpton said, “There are relatively few moments in our lives that make history; The weekend of August 27-28 will be one for the history books as we not only commemorate the 48^th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I Have a Dream Speech’, but also when the world bears witness to the unveiling of the national King Memorial”.

The march will begin on Constitution and 17^th at 1:30pm and go to the new monument on the National Mall.

The United Federation of Teachers is organizing buses and reported an enormous response from its members. All of the union’s buses were full as of  Wednesday.

Organizers asked participants to pay attention to possible inclement weather related to Hurrican Irene.

A ceremony to unveil the MLK statue is scheduled for Sunday. President Obama is scheduled to attend.

Photo: The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial is seen on the first evening of its “soft opening” ahead of its dedication this weekend in Washington, Aug. 22. (Charles Dharapak/AP)