Word: monumented
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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Organizers of the march had publicly predicted a throng of 100,000, although they privately felt confident that many more than that would show up. Now, peeking out of the green-and-white circus tent that served as their headquarters on the Monument grounds, the leaders began to worry that the crowd might fall short of their minimal hopes...
Overalls & Ivy. Even so, as of 7:30 on the morning of the great day, there were probably more cops than marchers on the assembly grounds around the Washington Monument. The District of Columbia's police chief, Robert V. Murray, had assembled a force of 5,900 men -including 350 club-carrying firemen, 1,700 National Guardsmen and 300 newly sworn-in police reserves. At nearby bases, 4,000 soldiers and marines were ready to cross the Potomac in helicopters if they were needed for riot duty...
...between 10% and 15% were white. There were, of course, the guitar-toting, goatee-growing beatniks; but for every one of these, there were probably two or three clergymen. There were Negroes in faded blue overalls; there were even more in stylish Ivy League suits. They swirled around the Monument's assembly ground, ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, passed around canteens filled with water (Washington had prohibited the sale of liquor for the day), tried to keep track of their children with no conspicuous success...
...march itself would go only from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial. But the march organizers made impressive logistical plans. They urged marchers to bring plenty of water-but not "alcoholic refreshments." They suggested peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, emphasized the shortcomings of mayonnaise "as it deteriorates, and may cause serious diarrhea." They reminded everyone to wear low-heeled shoes, to bring a raincoat, to wear a hat, to remember their sunglasses...
...home, strongly suggested that each marcher buy a 250 button, displaying a black hand clasping a white hand and wear it on parade. They arranged for 292 outdoor toilets, 21 portable water fountains, 22 first-aid stations manned by 40 doctors and 80 nurses to be scattered under the monument and along the route of the march...