Hundreds of DC residents joined city officials and activists for a rally on The Mall for DC Statehood. The rally took place at the DC War Memorial on the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington. Local and some national pro-Statehood politicians and activists addressed the large crowd gathered in the early morning. Speakers included, DC Mayor Vincent Gray, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, DC Council Chairman Mendelson, and Roland Martin. The one hour rally was followed by a March to the Lincoln Memorial.
Many hoped to use the historical event of the March on Washington to push for DC Statehood. Currently Washington DC has no voting members in either house of Congress. The call for DC Statehood dates back decades, but the movement took more visibility after DC Mayor Vincent Gray and a number of other activists were arrested a couple of years ago, while protesting in front of the US Congress for Statehood.