US civil rights leaders plan march on Washington for voting protections

Rev Al Sharpton and Martin Luther King III to lead August march after court rulings weakened voting rights

A coalition of civil rights leaders have announced plans to march on Washington in defense of voting rights following a string of federal and supreme court rulings that have weakened protections against racial discrimination in US elections.

The Rev Al Sharpton's National Action Network is leading the 28 August action, joined by Martin Luther King III, Arndrea Waters King, and several civil rights groups. The March on Washington 2026: Defend the Vote" will take place on the 63rd anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr's I Have a Dream speech.