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This Day in Black History: Oct. 16, 1995

The Million Man March took place in Washington, D.C.

The Million Man March was led by Minster Louis Farrakhan on Oct. 16, 1995. Hundreds of thousands of Black men gathered in Washington, D.C., to declare their rights to equal justice.
“The Million Man March was one of the most historic organizing and mobilizing events in the history of Black people in the United States,” said Chicago-based Dr. Conrad Worrill, who was one of the main organizers for the march.
During the march, Black men repeated a pledge by Farrakhan, that they would be responsible and active Black men within the community. Rosa Parks, Jesse Jackson, Cornel West,
Maya Angelou also participated in the event.
“We are standing in the place of those who couldn't make it here today. We are standing on the blood of our ancestors," Farrakhan said at the march in 1995. "We are standing on the blood of those who died in the middle passage, who died in the fields and swamps of America, who died hanging from trees in the South, who died in the cells of their jailers, who died on the highways and who died in the fratricidal conflict that rages within our community."
The mayor of Washington, D.C., Kurt Schmoke said, “Let our choices be for life, for protecting our women, our children, keeping our brothers free of drugs, free of crime.”
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(Photo: Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post/Getty Images)

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