WASHINGTON D.C. — Thousands of people gathered in the nation's capital Friday to commemorate the 1963 March on Washington.
Decades later people rallied for racial justice amid growing protests across the country. It seemed the recent shooting of Jacob Blake was on the mind of so many speakers.
Among them George Floyd's brother.
"I have to advocate for everybody because right now Jacob Blake...it's hard just to talk right now. Shot seven times man with his kids. That's painful," said Philonise Floyd.
A Kenosha police officer shot Blake in the back on Sunday.
Blake remains hospitalized as his family brought their message to Washington D.C. 57 years after Blake's grandfather joined the first march.
"My father was in town for the first march on D.C. I have a duty. I have a duty to support and understand each one I love everybody in this crowd I love you," said Jacob Blake Sr.
Blake Sr. added he was 7-years-old when first met Rev. Al Sharpton. He never thought they would meet again under these circumstances.
"Black America, I hold you accountable. You must stand. You must fight. But not with violence and chaos. With self-love," said Letter Widman, Blake's sister.
The Blake family was joined by relatives of Joel Acevedo and Dontre Hamilton.
Two other Wisconsin families that were impacted by police actions.
Acevedo was killed by an off-duty Milwaukee police officer earlier this year. Hamilton was shot and killed by a Milwaukee police officer in 2014.
Milwaukee community organizer Frank Nitty also spoke after he and others spent weeks walking from Wisconsin to the nation's capital. At times the group faced arrests and violence.
He urged activists to come together.
"We've been marching for the same stuff for 60 years. Black people shouldn't be marching for the same stuff Martin Luther King and them was marching for. I'm tired. I'm tired. And I'm tired of asking for justice I just want it to stop," said Frank Nitty.
Many speakers also encourage people to vote, saying it is part of the path to change.
