“I Was There - Freedom” March on Washington Pennant
Washington, D.C., August 28, 1963 - Length: 30 inches
 
A large and visually striking felt commemorative pennant issued for the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, held in Washington, D.C., on August 28, 1963. Printed in bold black lettering, the design reads “I Was There - Freedom,” accompanied by the date and location of the demonstration. At the hoist appears a circular emblem incorporating a handshake motif surrounded by the words “Jobs - Equality” together with the names of participating civil rights organizations, including NAACP and CORE.
 
The March on Washington remains one of the defining public demonstrations of the American Civil Rights Movement, drawing more than 250,000 participants to the nation’s capital and serving as the setting for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s landmark “I Have a Dream” address delivered from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Souvenirs such as this pennant were produced for attendees and supporters, standing today as evocative artifacts of the movement’s call for racial equality, economic justice, and federal civil rights legislation.
 
Large-format examples associated directly with the march are increasingly scarce, particularly in display sizes such as the present thirty-inch pennant.
 
Condition: Very good, with light toning and minor wear consistent with age.