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Aug 2013
9m 4s

I Have a Dream

Bbc World Service
About this episode

On August 28th 1963, the American civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, made his historic plea for an end to racial discrimination in the USA. Standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, he addressed hundreds of thousands of activists who had marched to Washington to demonstrate for black rights.

Listen to John Lewis, the youngest speaker on the podium that day.

Photo: Associated Press.

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