50 Powerful Photos From the 2020 Commitment March on Washington

Friday marked the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington, where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his historic “I Have a Dream” speech to a crowd of thousands. This year, history repeated itself with a 2020 Commitment March in the same exact place, helmed by Rev. Al Sharpton, Martin Luther King III (with his 12-year-old daughter Yolanda Renee King), and the National Action Network. Thousands packed the National Mall to speak out, protest, listen, and march for Black lives.

Photographer Julien James (@sirjulienjames) was among them and captured the moment in a series of 50 exclusive photographs for Cosmopolitan. His images and captions below illustrate what the sweltering hot day was like for the many who chose to take a stand.

Scroll through James’ work below, and consider reading the powerful speeches from the families of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Jacob Blake. To continue fighting for Black lives, here are guides for how to demand justice right now, how to support Black trans lives, how to find mental health resources if you’re a Black woman, how to talk to your relatives about Black Lives Matter, how to spot a fake protest story, how to protest safely, and how to donate wisely.

Protestors filled the reflecting pool as temperatures rose.

The National Mall at capacity with protestors.

A mother holding her teenage son as they listen to mothers who have lost their sons speak.

A young woman stands fiercely.

A young girl proudly waving her flag from the shoulders of her mother.

MLK Jr. overlooking the crowds protesting on the 57th anniversary of his "I Have a Dream" speech.

A member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority.

An uplifting moment.

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A message in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

A young woman at the March on Washington.

Protesting against inequality is a family affair.

A woman singing along at the March on Washington.

The crowd watching on as Rev. Al Sharpton delivers his speech.

A woman cools off in the reflecting pool on the National Mall.

A woman raises her first in solidarity.

A woman chanting, "I love being Black, I love the texture of my hair, I love the color of my skin," at the MLK Jr. memorial.

Members of Delta Sigma Theta sorority and Zeta Phi Beta sorority.

Rev. Al Sharpton addressing the crowd from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

A 7-months-pregnant woman drove from North Carolina to make her voice heard.

A young woman unapologetically cheering.

Proud mother of a Black son

A father and daughter sharing a moment.

Black Lives Matter in ASL.

"Enough is enough," she said. "Just read my mask and my shirt, they speak for me."

A group of Black Trans women from the Rose Institute. 

All Black Lives Matter.

Her mask says "Say Their Names" and her eyes say it all.

A family of women.

A young girl reminds everybody to vote.

She’s tired, she has been tired.

The feeling of being free-ish.

Thousands of people ascended to the National Mall for the Commitment March 2020.

A young Black woman at the March on Washington.

Back to back: a mother and daughter providing support for each other symbolically and literally.

#BLM

"I am hot and I am tired, but I need to be here."

Two young women making sure their voices are being heard.

Father and daughter at the March on Washington 2020.

A mother and daughter wearing matching shirts.

Lifelong best friends reunited to march on Washington.

Stand with Black women.

A woman is comfortable as she socially distances herself and watches from afar.