BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Oct. 8, 2015–This Saturday, October 10, 2015, is the twentieth anniversary of the Million Man March and Honorable Louis Farrakhan will deliver a historic address at the Washington Mall in Washington DC, titled “Justice or Else”. The address will be aired live on KREM Television beginning at 11 a.m., local time.
The first Million Man March was in October, 1995, and the theme at the time was the necessity of Atonement, Reconciliation and Responsibility, and in particular, the need for Black men to appeal for
God’s pardon for their failures to be the men that they hoped to be, and ought to be.
That was a magnificent and important day and appeal to the divine Supreme Being, who brought us through a time of great trouble.
Conservative estimates said over a million men filled the Washington Mall the chilly autumn day, but the Nation of Islam places the figure at more like a million and a half, which made it even larger than Dr. King’s 1964 March on Washington.
Minister Farrakhan has broadened the appeal of his call for “Justice or Else” to include other marginalized communities in the US, for example, the Native Americans, Latinos and so many other communities seeking justice.
He said, “Our Native American brothers and sisters often live in abject poverty and are fighting to keep the little land that they have from the hands of a duplicitous U.S. government and corporate liars and thieves.”
“The Latino community is subjected to scrutiny, mistreatment and disrespect. Women struggle for full recognition of their value and their worth. Soldiers, who have served their country in ill-conceived wars and conflicts based on lies, return home to be ignored and their broken bodies and minds left unattended.
“Even the poor Whites of this nation have no voice, as a cruel oligarchy rules on behalf of a small group of individuals,” he said.
Throughout the 20-year history of the MMM, the Minister has continued to focus on healing wounds of conflict within the African American community; issues specifically aimed at enhancing the quality of women, especially as mothers; youth enhancement and economic empowerment.
The venue has changed throughout the 20 years and the yearly event was held in several cities throughout the US. The last anniversary was in Jamaica and was heard live in Belize.
This time the focus is on Justice or Else, and he has called for 10,000 fearless men. Detractors have tried to say he is calling for a race war, but Farrakhan has said that his call is for the men to go back in the community and stand between rival gangs.
In a press release issued yesterday, Minister Farrakhan said: “I am convening ‘Justice Or Else!’ – the 20th Anniversary gathering of the Million Man March on October 10, 2015 in Washington, D.C. By Allah’s (God’s) grace, I plan to deliver an uncompromising message and call for the government of the United States to respond to our legitimate grievances.
“If you agree with me, I am inviting you to join me and those from diverse faith traditions, races, political beliefs, spiritual schools of thought, different geographic regions, income levels and a fearless cadre of young leaders, backed by their fearless elders in this demand for ‘Justice Or Else!’ in Washington, D.C.”
“Justice or Else!” is not a march, but a gathering of those who are sober-minded and serious about placing a demand on the United States government and putting power behind that demand to force the government to give marginalized groups what they deserve, he said.
Washington DC will be hot this Saturday. DC is a town that is normally buzzing with the politics of the most powerful country in the world.