WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA9) -- 20 years ago, hundreds of thousands of poeple gathered on the National Mall for the Million Man March. It was organized by Louis Farrakhan.
20 years later, he once again is calling for a peaceful rally "Justice or Else." Set up continues at the US Capitol, security will be tight. Reginald Hubbard had been looking for answers 20 years ago and felt he found them at the Million Man March in 1995. "It most definitely changed my life."
He says the same kind of spiritual enlightenment could help today's troubled youth. Reginald Hubbard, Memphis "They have rehabiliated prisoners, drug dealers, drug pushers this is where we need to be."
US Capitol Police first had to do some damage control this week after an officer in its intelligence division sent an email warning its officers of the potential for violence at Saturday's rally and that Nation of Islam Leader Louis Frrakhan has been accused of inciting violence. Capitol Police Chief Kim Dine has since apologized.
Leonard F. Muhammad, Nation of Islam spoke at a press conference, "we accepted his apology." "We really want a peaceful event as we have in the past and I believe based on our discussions yesterday with the chief of police of the Capitol, we will have that once again."
Returning Million March alum say they know exactly what tomorrow's rally stands for. Arlyn Lawrence, Atlanta "It's about solidarity, self improvement, uplifting and building up the community and I was in support of that 20 years ago when I was in college and that has never waned, so I will be here Saturday."
Hubbard, "I'm 51 now, in all my life I had never experienced what I had experienced 20 years ago, it's one of the reasons why I came back, you can't buy that." Capitol Police and the Nation of Islam are reluctant to say how many people are expected to attend the rally.
US Capitol Police say the newsletter that was released by Protective Services Bureau, Division of Intelligence and Information Analysis was rescinded and was not authorized or approved by the Chief of Police. They say appropriate steps have been taken to ensure this type of incident does not happen again.
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