This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/sharpton-to-lead-justice-for-all-march-in-dc/2014/12/13/36ce8a68-824f-11e4-9f38-95a187e4c1f7_story.html?wprss=rss_homepage
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Sharpton leads ‘Justice for All’ march in D.C. | Sharpton leads ‘Justice for All’ march in D.C. |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of demonstrators streamed down Pennsylvania Avenue toward the U.S. Capitol on Saturday to call attention to the recent deaths of unarmed African American men at the hands of police, shouting: “Black lives matter,” “Hands up, don’t shoot,” and “I can’t breathe.” | |
| The peaceful civil rights march led by families of the slain and organized by the Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network drew a wide range of Americans – black, white, Latino, Asian, young and elderly. They walked east toward the U.S. Capitol in a pageant of colorful t-shirts, banners and signs. | The peaceful civil rights march led by families of the slain and organized by the Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network drew a wide range of Americans – black, white, Latino, Asian, young and elderly. They walked east toward the U.S. Capitol in a pageant of colorful t-shirts, banners and signs. |
| The most poignant moment of the day came when family members of the slain black men and boys — Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Tamar Rice, Trayvon Martin and Amadou Diallo — took the stage at the Capitol. | |
| “Let’s keep it strong, long and meaningful,” said Esaw Garner, the widow of Garner, who was killed by an officer in New York City in July. | |
| But all did not go as planned, as a group of young demonstrators opposed to Sharpton, who they view as a celebrity activist seeking to take over a movement they started in Ferguson, seized the stage for a few minutes by shouting through a bullhorn. Many in the crowd frowned on the intrusion. | But all did not go as planned, as a group of young demonstrators opposed to Sharpton, who they view as a celebrity activist seeking to take over a movement they started in Ferguson, seized the stage for a few minutes by shouting through a bullhorn. Many in the crowd frowned on the intrusion. |
| Photos, tweets and video from the crowd. | Photos, tweets and video from the crowd. |
| When Sharpton took the stage at the Capitol, he urged the marchers not to let “provocateurs” divide them, by generation or race. | |
| “This is not a black march or a white march,” Sharpton said. “This is an American march so the rights of all Americans are protected. I’m inspired when I see white kids holding up signs saying ‘Black Lives Matter.’” | “This is not a black march or a white march,” Sharpton said. “This is an American march so the rights of all Americans are protected. I’m inspired when I see white kids holding up signs saying ‘Black Lives Matter.’” |
| Joe Madison, a satellite radio talk show host, echoed that theme. “This is not old versus young, black versus white,” he cried out to the demonstrators. “All human lives are important.” He said they were standing on the shoulders of leaders whose names became famous during the civil rights movement led by Dr. Martin Luther King a half century ago. | Joe Madison, a satellite radio talk show host, echoed that theme. “This is not old versus young, black versus white,” he cried out to the demonstrators. “All human lives are important.” He said they were standing on the shoulders of leaders whose names became famous during the civil rights movement led by Dr. Martin Luther King a half century ago. |
| “You are the John Lewises. You are the Fannie Lou Hamers, “ Madison said. | “You are the John Lewises. You are the Fannie Lou Hamers, “ Madison said. |
| “We are here because we refuse to accept injustice,” said Rep. Al Green (D-Texas), promising that Congress would pass legislation seeking better oversight of policing across the country. | “We are here because we refuse to accept injustice,” said Rep. Al Green (D-Texas), promising that Congress would pass legislation seeking better oversight of policing across the country. |
| As Sharpton took the podium, however, dozens and dozens of protesters walked west on Pennsylvania Ave, leaving the protest. | As Sharpton took the podium, however, dozens and dozens of protesters walked west on Pennsylvania Ave, leaving the protest. |
| “We wanted to be here. This was wonderful. But we’re good,” says Kiesha Thomas, 32, of Chicago. | “We wanted to be here. This was wonderful. But we’re good,” says Kiesha Thomas, 32, of Chicago. |
| David Saunders, 62, was also leaving. “I believe in the march. But I don’t want to hear him.” | David Saunders, 62, was also leaving. “I believe in the march. But I don’t want to hear him.” |
| The Washington march is one of a wave of demonstrations across the nation. Separate marches are scheduled from San Francisco to New York, including a Millions March and rally near New York University, a demonstration before the nationally televised basketball game between two top teams, the universities of North Carolina and Kentucky. | The Washington march is one of a wave of demonstrations across the nation. Separate marches are scheduled from San Francisco to New York, including a Millions March and rally near New York University, a demonstration before the nationally televised basketball game between two top teams, the universities of North Carolina and Kentucky. |
| Although many of the planned events were marches or rallies at city halls and federal buildings, events were as varied as the individuals organizing them, including, for example, a wilderness “healing hike” in hills outside Oakland, Calif. | Although many of the planned events were marches or rallies at city halls and federal buildings, events were as varied as the individuals organizing them, including, for example, a wilderness “healing hike” in hills outside Oakland, Calif. |
| By 11 a.m. several thousand people were jammed into Freedom Plaza near the White House as the crowd chanted the names of those recently killed by police, and "No Justice, no peace!" | By 11 a.m. several thousand people were jammed into Freedom Plaza near the White House as the crowd chanted the names of those recently killed by police, and "No Justice, no peace!" |
| A sea of signs sprouted from the crowd, reading "Black Lives Matter," "Stop Killer Cops," and "Hands up Don't Shoot." | A sea of signs sprouted from the crowd, reading "Black Lives Matter," "Stop Killer Cops," and "Hands up Don't Shoot." |
| Beating drums, waving signs and chanting “We can’t breathe,” thousands of marchers began to make their way down Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capitol. Various songs played over loud speaker as they marched — from Mahalia Jackson singing a hymn to Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On.” | |
| James Teal, 50, of Arlington, said he showed up at starting point, at 7 a.m. | James Teal, 50, of Arlington, said he showed up at starting point, at 7 a.m. |
| Shortly before 9, he stood bundled against the morning chill and holding an American flag upside down on its pole. The flag bore the names of slain black men and boys, including Emmett Till, the 14-year-old killed in Money, Miss., in 1955 and whose death helped ignite the civil rights movement. Other names included Amadou Diallo, Treyvon Martin, Tamir Rice, and Brown and Garner. | Shortly before 9, he stood bundled against the morning chill and holding an American flag upside down on its pole. The flag bore the names of slain black men and boys, including Emmett Till, the 14-year-old killed in Money, Miss., in 1955 and whose death helped ignite the civil rights movement. Other names included Amadou Diallo, Treyvon Martin, Tamir Rice, and Brown and Garner. |
| Teal said he had recently been arrested in Arlington for protesting on Columbia Pike. | Teal said he had recently been arrested in Arlington for protesting on Columbia Pike. |
| “I’m here because police brutality, racial profiling, this just will not be tolerated. I hope people come today and go back home with the sense that what we really need to do is vote ,” he said. | “I’m here because police brutality, racial profiling, this just will not be tolerated. I hope people come today and go back home with the sense that what we really need to do is vote ,” he said. |
| “I got the flag upside down, not as showing disrespect for my country. I love my country. I also love the constitution more then this flag” | “I got the flag upside down, not as showing disrespect for my country. I love my country. I also love the constitution more then this flag” |
| “The flag is just an upside down symbol of showing a sign of distress that this country and this nation is in,” he said | “The flag is just an upside down symbol of showing a sign of distress that this country and this nation is in,” he said |
| A group of Unitarian Universalists from the Washington area wore yellow T-shirts and carried a large yellow banner that said “Stand on the Side of Love.” | A group of Unitarian Universalists from the Washington area wore yellow T-shirts and carried a large yellow banner that said “Stand on the Side of Love.” |
| Eli Briggs, 44, of Silver Spring, a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Silver Spring, said she had come to “stand up for the ideals of justice for all people and that these killings of minority teenagers need to stop.” | Eli Briggs, 44, of Silver Spring, a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Silver Spring, said she had come to “stand up for the ideals of justice for all people and that these killings of minority teenagers need to stop.” |
| “There’s a lot more that needs to happen in terms of racial justice but at a bare minimum we need to stop the killings,” she said. | “There’s a lot more that needs to happen in terms of racial justice but at a bare minimum we need to stop the killings,” she said. |
| “We would like the Department of Justice to look into some of these incidents and really take an objective view of what’s happening and how we can make it stop,” she said. “Mainly today is about bearing witness to what’s going on and saying it has to stop.” | “We would like the Department of Justice to look into some of these incidents and really take an objective view of what’s happening and how we can make it stop,” she said. “Mainly today is about bearing witness to what’s going on and saying it has to stop.” |
| Mikaela Seligman, 45, a non-profit consultant, was headed to Freedom Plaza with her husband, two sons, 2 and 6, and her mother. | Mikaela Seligman, 45, a non-profit consultant, was headed to Freedom Plaza with her husband, two sons, 2 and 6, and her mother. |
| “As a parent I struggle to think of ways to explain the conversation we are having with our kids. It’s important for them to see this,” she said. | “As a parent I struggle to think of ways to explain the conversation we are having with our kids. It’s important for them to see this,” she said. |
| “It’s also important that we’re white. This is not an issue just for black people, this is an issue for us as a nation,” she said. | “It’s also important that we’re white. This is not an issue just for black people, this is an issue for us as a nation,” she said. |
| In 1963 Bill Griffin was 13 years old and still in junior high school in Greensboro, N. C. His mother, father and older brother participated in the big Civil Rights marches, but they told him he was too young. | In 1963 Bill Griffin was 13 years old and still in junior high school in Greensboro, N. C. His mother, father and older brother participated in the big Civil Rights marches, but they told him he was too young. |
| Today, the 64-year-old retired math teacher from Harlem helped organize a busload of 55 demonstrators to attend Saturday's march. | Today, the 64-year-old retired math teacher from Harlem helped organize a busload of 55 demonstrators to attend Saturday's march. |
| "I couldn't participate then, but I can do something now," Griffin said. | "I couldn't participate then, but I can do something now," Griffin said. |
| On Thursday in Washington, black staffers on Capitol Hill stood on the steps of the Capitol in prayer and a silent protest, and Friday night members of churches and others lined 16th Street, from Silver Spring to the White House, in a candlight vigil. | On Thursday in Washington, black staffers on Capitol Hill stood on the steps of the Capitol in prayer and a silent protest, and Friday night members of churches and others lined 16th Street, from Silver Spring to the White House, in a candlight vigil. |
| The myriad demonstrations in recent weeks over race and police tactics are rooted in the Ferguson protests that began in August following Brown’s death. They grew significantly after a New York grand jury declined to indict an officer in Garner’s death. That decision came a week after a Missouri grand jury declined to indict in Brown’s shooting death. Garner’s altercation with police was caught on video, and the decision to file no charges drew outrage across the political spectrum, from liberals and conservatives alike. | The myriad demonstrations in recent weeks over race and police tactics are rooted in the Ferguson protests that began in August following Brown’s death. They grew significantly after a New York grand jury declined to indict an officer in Garner’s death. That decision came a week after a Missouri grand jury declined to indict in Brown’s shooting death. Garner’s altercation with police was caught on video, and the decision to file no charges drew outrage across the political spectrum, from liberals and conservatives alike. |
| Expressions of outrage in what appears to be a burgeoning movement have been organic and original, and not surprisingly have shown generational fractures from its earliest days in Ferguson. | Expressions of outrage in what appears to be a burgeoning movement have been organic and original, and not surprisingly have shown generational fractures from its earliest days in Ferguson. |
| Those slain recently by police include Garner, a cigarette vendor killed July in a chokehold; Brown, who was shot in August; Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old from Ohio shot in November while holding a pellet gun; and John Crawford III, shot in August by police in an Ohio Wal-Mart. | Those slain recently by police include Garner, a cigarette vendor killed July in a chokehold; Brown, who was shot in August; Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old from Ohio shot in November while holding a pellet gun; and John Crawford III, shot in August by police in an Ohio Wal-Mart. |
| Trayvon Martin, 17, was killed in 2012 during a confrontation with an armed neighborhood watch volunteer, who prosecutors initially chose not to charge, despite some questions surrounding the shooting. | Trayvon Martin, 17, was killed in 2012 during a confrontation with an armed neighborhood watch volunteer, who prosecutors initially chose not to charge, despite some questions surrounding the shooting. |
| Sharpton’s National Action Network, which organized the “Justice For All” march in Washington, said more than a week ago that the procession will be led by victims’ relatives. Some young protesters who have helped to sustain demonstrations for months are highly critical of traditional civil rights activists, including Sharpton, who some have called a celebrity activist. | Sharpton’s National Action Network, which organized the “Justice For All” march in Washington, said more than a week ago that the procession will be led by victims’ relatives. Some young protesters who have helped to sustain demonstrations for months are highly critical of traditional civil rights activists, including Sharpton, who some have called a celebrity activist. |
| Sharpton has said his work and his group offer support to grieving families, which often lack the resources that police have to control the public narrative. | Sharpton has said his work and his group offer support to grieving families, which often lack the resources that police have to control the public narrative. |
| “We’re like the union for families because they want an infrastructure to fight an infrastructure,” Sharpton said. “You can’t sit up in your living room and fight an institution unless you have institutional support. | “We’re like the union for families because they want an infrastructure to fight an infrastructure,” Sharpton said. “You can’t sit up in your living room and fight an institution unless you have institutional support. |
| “We do not want this to be an episodic movement,” he said. “We want it to be real change.” | “We do not want this to be an episodic movement,” he said. “We want it to be real change.” |
| Sharpton’s celebrity came through protest and fighting authorities for decades, ringing up victories and suffering embarrassing losses. He expanded his image by unsuccessfully campaigning for a Democratic presidential nomination in 2004. | Sharpton’s celebrity came through protest and fighting authorities for decades, ringing up victories and suffering embarrassing losses. He expanded his image by unsuccessfully campaigning for a Democratic presidential nomination in 2004. |
| His exposure caught the attention of African Americans such as Garner’s widow, Esaw Garner, and his mother, Gwen Carr; Brown’s parents, Michael Brown Sr. and Lesley McSpadden; Tamir’s mother, Samaria Rice; as well as Martin’s parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin. Each is expected at the march backed by Sharpton. | His exposure caught the attention of African Americans such as Garner’s widow, Esaw Garner, and his mother, Gwen Carr; Brown’s parents, Michael Brown Sr. and Lesley McSpadden; Tamir’s mother, Samaria Rice; as well as Martin’s parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin. Each is expected at the march backed by Sharpton. |
| But some young people have been blunt in their criticism. “I think part of it is people just don’t connect with his leadership,” said Charles Wade, co-founder of a group Operation Help or Hush, who plans to participate in the Millions March. | But some young people have been blunt in their criticism. “I think part of it is people just don’t connect with his leadership,” said Charles Wade, co-founder of a group Operation Help or Hush, who plans to participate in the Millions March. |
| “This weekend, people were going to D.C., but they’re no longer going because there is a march by young people, organized by young people, that young people funded,” Wade said. “We’ve been excluded by the traditional groups, so we’ve started our own thing.” | “This weekend, people were going to D.C., but they’re no longer going because there is a march by young people, organized by young people, that young people funded,” Wade said. “We’ve been excluded by the traditional groups, so we’ve started our own thing.” |
| Shermale Humphrey of St. Louis, who joined protests in Ferguson that started the day after Brown was shot, said she agrees with “a lot of what” Sharpton says, but not his constant presence as a major organizer. | Shermale Humphrey of St. Louis, who joined protests in Ferguson that started the day after Brown was shot, said she agrees with “a lot of what” Sharpton says, but not his constant presence as a major organizer. |
| “Why should it be that when something happens we should always see your face?” Humphrey said, referring to Sharpton. “We need older people, their wisdom, because younger people can wild out without guidance. But we need them all the time, not just when something happens.” | “Why should it be that when something happens we should always see your face?” Humphrey said, referring to Sharpton. “We need older people, their wisdom, because younger people can wild out without guidance. But we need them all the time, not just when something happens.” |
| The Washington march will likely dwarf the others Saturday. Organizers said buses are coming from New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, North Carolina, Florida and elsewhere. The march will be augmented by the presence of old-guard civil rights groups: the Black Women’s Round Table, the NAACP and the National Urban League, along with partners such as the American Civil Liberties Union. | The Washington march will likely dwarf the others Saturday. Organizers said buses are coming from New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, North Carolina, Florida and elsewhere. The march will be augmented by the presence of old-guard civil rights groups: the Black Women’s Round Table, the NAACP and the National Urban League, along with partners such as the American Civil Liberties Union. |
| On Friday night, a group of about 25 demonstrators arrived in Washington from Ferguson. Protesters from the D.C. area had gathered in front of the DoubleTree Hilton in Crystal City to greet them. | On Friday night, a group of about 25 demonstrators arrived in Washington from Ferguson. Protesters from the D.C. area had gathered in front of the DoubleTree Hilton in Crystal City to greet them. |
| Bishop D. Demond Robinson of the Kingdom Destiny church brought three vans full of young adults and teenagers and a few middle-aged women. | Bishop D. Demond Robinson of the Kingdom Destiny church brought three vans full of young adults and teenagers and a few middle-aged women. |
| Over a bullhorn, they told everyone to get as close to the stage as possible at the rally, and they vowed to take it over if they were denied a chance to have their say. | Over a bullhorn, they told everyone to get as close to the stage as possible at the rally, and they vowed to take it over if they were denied a chance to have their say. |
| Michael E. Ruane, Mariam Baksh and Whitney Leaming contributed to this report. | Michael E. Ruane, Mariam Baksh and Whitney Leaming contributed to this report. |