:(civil rights leader john lewis was asked to remove the question "which side is the federal government on? " from his speech at the march on washington in 1963 to avoid offending the kennedy administration. why was lewis questioning national leaders? the president had not issued orders to desegregate the military. the president had not spoken out for equality for people of all races. the federal government had not prosecuted southern racist violence. the federal courts had not outlawed public school segregation.

The federal government had not prosecuted Southern racist violence.--Though the government was providing legal protection on the law books, there was no follow through for violence against rioters. 

Violence against marchers and rioters was often not addressed by the government. The Supreme Court had desegregated schools and began enforcing the spirit of the 14 and 15 Amendments. Government leadership spoke of equality and fair treatment but violence was never addressed. 

Martin Luther

Martin Luther, (born November 10, 1483, Eisleben, Saxony [Germany]—died February 18, 1546, Eisleben), German theologian and religious reformer who was the catalyst of the 16th-century Protestant Reformation.