http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/10/us/million-man-march/index.html(CNN) Crowds gathered Saturday on the National Mall in Washington under the theme of "justice or else" for a rally marking the 20th anniversary of the Million Man March.
The scene was reminiscent of the first Million Man March, also known as the Day of Atonement, organized by Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan: Men and women of all ages, some holding signs, listened as leaders of the black community delivered messages of hope and unity.
Farrakhan is expected to deliver a keynote speech Saturday as he did 20 years ago, when he spent more than two hours expounding on how white supremacy was the root of the country's suffering. Back then, the Nation of Islam claimed between 1 million and 2 million people gathered to hear 12 hours of speeches on the commitment of black men to take responsibility for improving themselves, their families and communities. The National Park Service estimated between 450,000 and 600,000.
The park service no longer estimates the size of crowds at National Mall events.
Civil rights leader Benjamin Chavis, who attended the first march, noted that in the crowd 20 years ago was an Illinois state senator who went on to become president, "so we've made some progress," he told the crowd.
"But you and I know we've got a lot more progress to make," he said. "There's too much injustice, too much inequality, too much mass incarceration... too [many] situations in our community that need addressing, and that's why we're here today."
U.S. Rep. Danny K. Davis, D-Illinois, who also was present in 1995, said the rally was a testament to struggles and progress, past and present.
"We will march on so over-aggressive law enforcement procedures will not be the order of the day. We will march on until every child has access to high quality education. We will march so that every citizen will know that they can get health care," Davis said.
"Today's gathering is a reaffirmation of the faith that the dark past has taught us and of the hope the present has brought us."
