A Decade Later, Marchers Look for More

For the speakers, a prominent theme was unity among black people. Farrakhan said that when black people fund their own events, as he has, there is no need to ask white philanthropists about who can be involved. As with his previous rallies, there was significant public pressure -- especially from Jewish groups -- for so-called mainstream African American leaders to boycott the event. The controversial leader has been called sexist, racist and anti-Semitic for past comments.

As opposed to the 1995 event, the NAACP, the National Council of Negro Women and the Urban League supported this gathering. Speaker Kweisi Mfume, former chairman of the NAACP and a candidate for the U.S. Senate from Maryland, said yesterday that "we understand that any bigotry is bad. We also understand that the time for action is now."

The day was not without dissension. A rift widened between event organizers and members of the gay community. One gay group said it had been promised a coveted speaking slot but was not allowed to speak, and a ruckus resulted in the VIP section where speakers assembled.

A constant of the day was criticism of the Bush administration -- from leaders and from crowd members who held signs that said, "Bush Lied, People Died" and charged that the government is insensitive to the needs of black people. Hurricane Katrina, in particular, drew concern from several black leaders, who contended that the federal response to the disaster would have been quicker if most of the residents waiting to be rescued in New Orleans had been white instead of black.

Farrakhan reiterated questions about whether the government was culpable in the breaching of the levees that flooded 80 percent of New Orleans.

"We charge America with criminal neglect," said Farrakhan, adding that lawyers need to look into filing a "class action suit on behalf of those who have suffered." He also said that as the Iraqi people went to the polls to vote on a new constitution, there should be "regime change" in the United States for lying about the reason for going to war.

Earlier in the day, Malik Zulu Shabazz, chairman of the New Black Panther Party, accused President Bush of "drowning the people of New Orleans and sabotaging the levees" and said that "the real gangsters operate out of CIA headquarters." His comments drew rousing applause.

Speeches and music started about 5:30 a.m. and continued throughout the day. The crowd, initially sparse, grew as the event went on. Metro ridership was slightly higher. As of 6 p.m., there were 331,000 trips on Metro, compared with a typical Saturday ridership of 275,000 to 300,000.

Members of the Nation of Islam's Fruit of Islam stood on the Mall in uniforms, most working at large plastic trash receptacles set up as collection points for people to contribute money for the event's costs and for the planned larger movement.

Farrakhan asked participants to go to the Millions More Movement Web site, sign petitions and sign up to help. The cost to do so is $20, although he said people could give what they want. In addition, he asked attendees and those watching the televised event to donate $1 a week to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina, and he announced a board of advisers to help administer the fund.

"America is for sale, you know," he told the crowd. "All she needs to see is more Benjamins," or $100 bills.

After the speeches were complete, just before 6 p.m., some said they got what they came for.

Mel Gilmore, an advertising executive from Largo, Md., who also was at the Million Man March, said: "Minister Farrakhan's speech was very positive, absolutely. I think his speech will make me go out to do the right thing. It is time for our people to come together."

Staff writer Del Quentin Wilber contributed to this report.