ennessee, to Jackson, Mississippi—Martin Luther King Jr. took up the march and was joined by fellow Civil Rights leaders John Lewis and Ralph Abernathy. Thousands followed. As we marched toward Jackson, with helicopters flying overhead, the unwavering King, flanked by Lewis (in light raincoat) and Abernathy, sang ‘We Shall Overcome,’ which became the anthem of the Civil Rights Movement. Each evening, the marchers would pitch their tents to rest. One night in Canton, Mississippi, we were tear-gassed and beaten by Mississippi Highway Patrolmen. I was carried out of the melee by a local Black family and given water until I could see again. Still, I am glad I was there at the Meredith March in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement, one of the most important historical events of the twentieth century.” - Harry Benson Copyright © Harry Benson 1966