August 29, 1963

Kennedy Labor Day message urges speed-up in efforts to achieve equal rights in voting

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28-- No one could remember an invading army quite as gentle as the 200,000 civil rights marchers who occupied Washington today.

statement in UN on Israeli-Syrian border issue

Washington demonstration; over 200,000 Negroes end whites participate in orderly gathering; 10 march leaders s at Lincoln Memorial; crowd deeply moved by Rev Dr King s, with 'I have a dream' refrain, voicing hope of equality and justice for all Amers; Wilkins, J Lewis, other leaders stress hard fight ahead; Wilkins says Adm rights bill does not go far enough; Lewis warns of march through South if meaningful legis is not passed; omits certain statements in original text at insistence of Abp O'Boyle, who refused to give invocation otherwise; J Baker, J Robinson, N Thomas s; crowds at Lincoln Memorial illus; crowd quiet and restrained

Cong seen largely uninfluenced by march; about 75 Sens and Reprs at Lincoln Memorial; Sens Humphrey and Dirksen doubt march will affect passage of rights bill; march leaders visit Dirksen, Mansfield, Repr Halleck, Speaker McCormack, Repr Albert