The photograph shows a densely packed, racially mixed crowd during the rally at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963. Several people in the foreground hold hands; many have their mouths open, suggesting collective singing. In the background, a United States flag is visible, held aloft by a person. The scene illustrates the broad, interracial participation in the demonstration, which was one of the central characteristics of the March. The collective singing of freedom songs was an integral part of the civil rights movement and served as an expression of collective solidarity and nonviolent protest.