Community members joined on Saturday morning to honor the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, beginning at the Natick Common gazebo and marching to the Morse Institute Library for remarks, a poetry reading, and reflections on footage of the Aug. 28, 1963 march.

The event was presided over by Troy Smith, the town’s new director of equity, inclusion, and outreach, and included comments from Natick for Black Lives Matters’ Deborah Mitchell, longtime Natick contributors Jay and Erica Ball, Select Board member Paul Joseph, and others.

march on washington event at morse institute library — Community members watch footage from 1963 March on Washington

Reflecting on the March, Erica Ball recalls “the sheer size was overwhelming,” as was the participation of people of different races, young, and old, at the historic event. She ended with words of support for how “loving and inclusive” the community of Natick has become.

Coming from a long line of activists, Mitchell said we’ve progressed significantly on racial justice issues, but still have a long way to go as we focus on “the continuation of the Dream” of which Martin Luther King, Jr., spoke.

The Select Board’s Joseph emphasized that work remains to be done in Natick as long as anyone feels unwelcome here. The social change we need, he said, is for people to do what they can and take an ownership role in the process.

A musical interlude featuring Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come” and an address by Bishop Frank E. Kelly wrapped up the event.