WASHINGTON-A delegation of UW-Madison students joined tens of thousands of black men and women gathered from around the country to express solidarity and begin mobilizing community development this weekend in Washington, D.C.
The trip was sponsored by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and the Wisconsin Black Students Union.
By some estimates, approximately 1.8 million participants filled National Mall Saturday??-one decade after the original Million Man March??-to celebrate its rebirth in the Millions More Movement, a rally highlighting the need for unity, peace and civic participation as a path to liberation and equality.
People in the crowd held signs addressing a range of issues. Some advocates demanded reparations for slavery while others condemned capitalism or denounced President George W. Bush. The timing of the event gave minority leaders an opportunity to speak out against deterioration of public health care and public education programs and the handling of Hurricane Katrina and the Iraq war.
For many of the approximately 80 UW-Madison students who went on the trip, the experience was a spiritually empowering communion with a nationwide brotherhood. Others said they were inspired by the warm smiles and supportive energy of the event.
UW-Madison junior Lauren Woods said the event, like the 1995 march, \showcases the possibilities of every community"" and helps people recognize ""my liberation and your liberation are intertwined.""
Black leaders representing the Nation of Islam, New Black Panthers, Global Youth Movement, Baptist churches and mothers of fallen black soldiers called for individual members of black communities and black youth to personally endeavor to uplift their neighborhoods. But many of the same speakers criticized Bush and the federal government for marginalizing poor people in the United States.
""We won't forget New Orleans,"" former Haitian immigrant and hip-hop artist Wyclef Jean said. The masses gathered waved flags and sang along as Jean performed a song in which he repeated the line, ""This is not just a march, we're building a movement.""
R&B artist Erykah Badu said, ""I want for you and me to stand in direct opposition to oppression and negativity.""
Millions More Movement convener Rev. Louis Farrakhan of the Nation of Islam suggested pursuing a class action lawsuit against Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency for criminal negligence.
""If the people on those rooftops had blonde hair and blue eyes, something would have been done sooner,"" Farrakhan said.
Wisconsin Black Student Union and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., will coordinate a reenactment of the movement for spring, according to Avery Jackson, public relations coordinator for WBSU.
Jackson said the WBSU encourages its members to participate in service work off campus through Big Brothers Big Sisters and Project Bootstrap, an after school program for middle school students, among others.
Riding back to Madison, each participant took the tour bus microphone to share their reflections. Many spoke of the importance of unity, individual responsibility and turning the spirit of the movement into action.
""I liked the idea that it's up to us,"" UW-Madison graduate student Adey Assefa said. ""I have a responsibility to do something.""
""It's easy for our country to put together this many people to go to war, but to come together for something peaceful like this ... to showcase our differences, yet know that we're unified, it's a great thing,"" UW-Madison sophomore and WBSU member Tim Cole said.
