LiveBlog
Million Man March
Two decades ago, the “Million Man March” in Washington, D.C., wanted to show the world that black lives matter. Now, the event is coming back to D.C. this weekend.
Nation of Islam leader, Louis Farrakhan, addressing the Justice or Else rally on the National Mall Saturday. (Photo: Justice or Else)
Paying homage to the Million Man March 20 years ago, Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam, addressed a large crowd on the National Mall on Saturday afternoon.
He urged the crowd to continue the push for police reform and changes in black communities.
"A fearful people can’t be free. A fearful people will bow down, when it appears that the enemy is so strong and we are so weak,” he said.
The Nation of Islam sponsored the Justice or Else rally, to mark the 20th anniversary of the 1995 Million Man March, when hundreds of thousands of black men rallied in D.C.
Farrakhan spearheaded that original march.
Attention has been focused on the deaths of unarmed black men since the shootings of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in 2012 in Florida and 18-year-old Michael Brown in 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. Deaths of unarmed black males at the hands of law enforcement officers have inspired protests under the "Black Lives Matter" moniker around the country.
Farrakhan also paid tribute to the 'Black Lives Matter' movement, saying its members represent “future leadership.”
The original march on Oct. 16, 1995, brought hundreds of thousands to D.C. to pledge to improve their lives, their families and their communities. The National Park Service estimated the attendance at the original march to be around 400,000, but subsequent counts by private organizations put the number at 800,000 or higher. The National Park Service has refused to give crowd estimates on Mall activities since.
Organizers estimated hundreds of thousands of participants would attend this year's event.
President Barack Obama, who attended the first Million Man March, will be in California on Saturday.
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Alert!!!....c-span will be covering the #JusticeOrElse March LIVE starting at 10am Saturday. Spread the word!by jamalbryant via twitter retweeted by coolaiihsenioo 10/10/2015 9:22:36 AM -
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Theme song for the movement. #BLACKLIVESMATTER #MillionManMarch #JusticeOrElse bit.ly/1VKd4Ji @rolandsmartinby Mr_Tyson via twitter 10/10/2015 10:38:01 AM -
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by ComedianCastle via twitter 10/10/2015 12:48:15 PM -
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by MiLLkeSmooV via twitter 10/10/2015 1:22:53 PM -
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@tamikadmallory talking right #justiceorelse #dormroomtv #dormroomnews #blacklivesmatter #millionmanmarchby DormRoomTV via twitter 10/10/2015 3:32:38 PM
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getting ready to hit the anchor desk @WTOP ... if you are at #JusticeOrElse we're looking to speak to someone who was at the original marchby Allison Keyes via twitter 10/10/2015 3:53:00 PM -
by Larry Henderson via twitter 10/10/2015 3:53:58 PM -
by Larry Henderson via twitter 10/10/2015 3:54:01 PM
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by Crewof42 via twitter 10/10/2015 4:30:16 PM -
by Crewof42 via twitter 10/10/2015 4:30:20 PM
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#JusticeOrElse activists raise the photos of victims of police involved shootings (webcast.justiceorelse.com/) -
Sister of Sandra Bland, who died in policy custody in Texas, speaks before the Justice or Else rally. (webcast.justiceorelse.com/) -
Nation of Islam Leader Minister Louis Farrakhan addressing the crowd at #MillionManMarch nowby WTOP via twitter 10/10/2015 5:20:27 PM -
Farrakhan: “I want to say how happy I am to be a part of such a great showing of unity” #MillionManMarchby WTOP via twitter 10/10/2015 5:22:44 PM
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Farrakhan: “Those who have suffered the most are the indigenous people” #MillionManMarchby WTOP via twitter 10/10/2015 5:23:40 PM
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Farrakhan: ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement represents the future leadership #MillionManMarchby WTOP via twitter 10/10/2015 5:27:07 PM
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Farrakhan: We in unity will not only get justice for ourselves, but justice for all those who are deprived #MillionManMarchby WTOP via twitter 10/10/2015 5:29:22 PM
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Farrakhan: The ancestors are happy that a young generation has arisen #MillionManMarchby WTOP via twitter 10/10/2015 5:31:22 PM
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Farrakhan: What good is it to be alive and every day that you live, you see your people suffering? #MillionManMarchby WTOP via twitter 10/10/2015 5:34:37 PM
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Capitol Police warned of violence ahead of Million Man March rally
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Capitol Police Department’s intelligence office has warned its officers that violence is a possibility this weekend as a rally commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Million Man March, and the department’s union president is unhappy about it.
This weekend’s rally is organized by the Nation of Islam, led by Louis Farrakhan, and the intelligence office of the Capitol Police said last month in an email newsletter that Farrakhan “has been accused of inciting violence against both Caucasians and police officers.”
Capitol Police Chief Kim Dine tells The Washington Post that the newsletter was “rescinded as it was not authorized, reviewed, or approved by the Chief of Police, adding that the department “prides itself on protecting the rights of people to peaceably assemble under the First Amendment.”
But James Konczos, president of the Capitol Police officers’ union, has called for Dine’s resignation, saying in an email that many officers took exception to the “race-baiting” tone of the newsletter.
Read more on WTOP.com.
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Farrakhan: There must come a time when we say enough is enough. It must change. #MillionManMarchby WTOP via twitter 10/10/2015 5:36:31 PM
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Justice or Else Road ClosuresFROM CAPITOL POLICE:10/6 at 7:00 a.m. through 10/13 at 4:00 a.m. (Closed Intermittently)First Street NW / SW between Peace Circle and Garfield Circle• 10/9 at 12:01 a.m. through 10/11 at 4:00 a.m. (Closed / No Parking)First Street NW / SW between Constitution Ave and Independence AvePennsylvania Ave between First Street NW and 3rd Street NWMaryland Ave between First Street SW and 3rd Street SW• 10/10 at 12:01 a.m. through 10/11 at 12:01 a.m. (No parking)Louisiana Ave between North Capitol Street NW and Constitution Ave NWNew Jersey Ave between Louisiana Ave NW and Constitution Ave NWConstitution Ave between First Street NW and First Street NEFROM DC POLICE/DDOT:Tuesday, October 6, 2015The Metropolitan Police Department and the DC Department of Transportation would like to inform the public of several street closures due to the Justice or Else, scheduled to be held on Saturday, October 10, 2015.On Saturday, October 10, 2015, the following streets will be closed from 4:00 am to 5:00 pm.• 3rd Street, NW from Constitution Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW• 4th Street, NW from Madison Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW• Maryland Avenue, SW from 3rd Street to Independence Avenue, SWAll street closures and listed times are subject to change based upon prevailing or unexpected conditions. Motorists could encounter possible delays if operating in the vicinity of this event and may wish to consider alternative routes. The Metropolitan Police Department and the D.C. Department of Transportation also wishes to remind motorists in the vicinity of this event to proceed with caution as increased pedestrian traffic can be anticipated.
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Mosque prepares for counter protest ahead of Million Man March
WTOPWASHINGTON — While the Nation of Islam holds a rally on the 20th anniversary of the Million Man March, a local mosque is bracing for counter protests. Masjid Muhammad, also known as the Nation’s Mosque,… -
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The Latest on the Million Man March anniversary: Families
WASHINGTON (AP) — The latest from the National Mall as thousands of African-Americans from across the country mark the 20th anniversary of the Million Man March, calling for changes in policing and in black communities. All times are local.___2:30 p.m.
Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan says black men and women should forsake foul language and violence against each other.
Farrakan says that if things don’t change in the black community, participating in the 20th anniversary of the Million Man March is just “vanity.”
He spoke out against using foul language against women, and against domestic violence and abortion.
Farrakan says, “It is your body, you can do what you want with it.” But he added it would be tragic if a scientist or leader was aborted.
Farrakhan also praised the young protesters behind Black Lives Matter. He called them the next leaders of the civil rights movement and called on older leaders to support them.
He asks: “What good are we if we don’t prepare young people to carry the torch of liberation to the next step?”
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1:30 p.m.The families of several unarmed African-American men and women killed in encounters with police have encouraged the crowd at the 20th anniversary of the Million Man March to continue to speak out against police misconduct.The families have asked the marchers not to forget the names of Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin and Sandra Bland and not be silent about their deaths.Martin’s mother, Sybrina Fulton, says: “We will not continue to stand by and not say anything anymore.”Attention has been focused on the deaths of unarmed black men since the shootings of 17-year-old Martin in 2012 in Florida and 18-year-old Michael Brown in 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri.Authorities say Bland hanged herself in July in a Texas jail cell after a traffic stop, but her family disputes those findings. -
For #dctraffic purposes - many buses that brought groups to #JusticeOrElse scheduled to leave at 5. Taste of DC closures continue all wkend
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Farrakhan wraps up at 337p - solid two-plus hours. Now here comes the rush out. #JusticeOrElse program with a bit more, but basically over
