jason carroll is there. what can we expect to see today? reporter: we have already heard from some of the speakers this had morning keeping on theme that this is not so much a commem commemoration, but a continuation, a continue to fight for civil rights. and i spoke to two men who were here at this very same spot where i m standing 60 years ago. i spoke to them about what they experienced then versus where the country is now. it was a call for economic and racial equality, a call to action that brought more than 200,000 people to the national mall in washington, d.c. on august 28th, 60 years ago, a day best rebed for martin luther king jr. s i have a dream speech. now is the time to make real the promises of democracy.
200,000 people filled the streets of the nation s capitol for a fight for jobs and freedom. it was also the day dr. martin luther king jr. gave his i have a dream speech on the steps of the lincoln merit morial. the march proved critical for the passage of new laws e including the civil rights act. jason carroll spoke with two activists who attended the historic march and got their perspective on where the fight for equality stands today. reporter: it was a call for economic and racial equality, a call to action that brought more than 200,000 people to the national mall in washington, d.c. on august 28th, 60 years ago, a day best rem remembered for the historic i have a dream
never over. cnn s jason carroll joins us now. i m glad we re doing this. i m glad you have done this. you spoke with some people who were there 60 years ago. let me explain. the theme this year is a commemoration, not a continuation. so it is to continue to push for civil rights. as you said, i did speak to two men who were there 60 years ago, spoke to them about the march. also spoke to them about where they saw the country then versus where it is now. freedom! reporter: it was a call for economic and racial equality, a call to action that brought more than 200,000 people to the national mall in washington, d.c. on august 28th, 60 years ago, a day best remembered for martin luther king jr. s historic i have a dream
freedom. reporter: it was a call for economic and racial equality and a call to action that brought more than 200,000 people to the national mall in washington, d.c., on august 28th, 60 years ago, and a day best remembered for martin luther king jr. s historic i have a dream speech. now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. reporter: among the hundreds of thousands, two young activists filled with hope. i was all of the way on the top. reporter: all of the way on the top to the left. yeah, over to the left. reporter: courtland cox is 82, and 60 years ago, he was a 22-year-old working for the civil rights organization sncc, the student nonviolent coordinating committee. what i remember is that the platform is there in the dead center. reporter: and robert flanagan was there, too. i was sitting there on the wall up the of the entertainers.