In Spirit of '95 Million Man March, Rally Seeks End to Youth Violence

More than 500 people gathered in Southeast Washington yesterday for a rally to call for an end to youth violence and commemorate the 12th anniversary of the Million Man March.

The event, attended by Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and a coalition of clergy and community activists, capped a week of events sponsored by Peaceoholics, a nonprofit group that works with the city's youths.

"It is important to lend support to a new generation of young people who are not only doing positive things but are inspiring others to do positive things," Fenty (D) said at Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X avenues before leading a march in the neighborhood.

The event was an echo of the historic march headed by Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. Hundreds of thousands of people from across the country answered Farrakhan's call for African American men to come to Washington on Oct. 16, 1995, where they pledged to take responsibility for their actions and return to their communities as productive citizens. Those who spoke yesterday said the call must be realized today.

"We thank God for keeping the spirit of the Million Man March alive," said the Rev. Willie Wilson, pastor of the Union Temple Baptist Church in Southeast Washington. Wilson, who was a key organizer of the 1995 march, was the host of yesterday's rally, in the parking lot of his church.

Several District public schools dismissed their students early so they could participate in the march and rally, and more than half of the people in the crowd were youths. The rally featured music, poetry and speeches.

Ashley Roberts, 16, a senior at Ballou Senior High School, said it was important to raise awareness of the issues. "We need to increase the peace and have more positive alternatives for young people," she said.

Another rally participant, Tre Johnson, 26, was hit in the thigh by a stray bullet as he was leaving a nightclub in 2003. Johnson, lead singer of the hip-hop group Uncalled4Experience, said he joined the Peaceoholics and often visits jails and correctional institutions to urge young people to turn their lives around.

"We need to come together, especially young black people, because we need more knowledge about ourselves," Johnson said.

The Million Man March was billed as a "Day of Atonement." Peaceoholics used a similar theme in organizing activities for what they called "Atonement Week." Events included a gospel concert, a mock trial, a fashion show and a forum called "What's Snitching and What's Not."

Ronald L. Moten, co-founder of Peaceoholics, said that he was pleased with yesterday's turnout but that his goals are more long-term.

"This is the beginning of a movement," he said. "We have signed up more than 300 young people, who will take classes on citizenship and how to be organizers in their community to end violence."