In the historic August 28, 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, a coalition of top civil rights and religious organizations – which included A. Phillip Randolph, Negro American Labor Council (NALC), Roy Wilkins, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), James Farmer, Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), Whitney Young, National Urban League (NUL), John Lewis, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee(SNCC) and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) came together to collectively voice their disapproval with the Kennedy administrations reluctance to address civil rights violations and the high unemployment of blacks at that time. For the next 45 years – the above organizations as with others have been “Asleep at the wheel” on issues of police brutality, stop and frisk policies, criminal justice and discrimination issues which disproportionately affect communities of color. We have heard very little from the top civil rights organizations of our day. In fact, 47 years have elapsed without even a whisper from any of these organizations about commemorating that hallowed day in 1963 with a national holiday, follow-up march or even a discussion to ascertain whether or not the march had a positive impact. This is why the so-called “Outrage” by many of the present civil rights leaders over a March and Rally being held by the National Tea Party movement hosted by Glenn Beck et al at the Lincoln Memorial – on the 47th anniversary of the historic March on Washington – on it’s face, looks to be more “Guilt” than outrage. The National Action Network, headed by the Rev. Al Sharpton along with other civil rights organizations and Clergy will be holding a “Counter-March and Rally” titled: “Reclaim the Dream,” being held at Dunbar High School in Washington D.C. After the rally they plan to walk to the national mall to shed light on issues they feel have eroded the dream Rev King spoke about 47 years ago. The rally being held by the Tea Party which is being billed as “Restoring Honor,” will be keynoted by Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin. Along with the Tea Party, other organizations will be in attendance. In an article published by the Huffington Post, Dennis A. Henigan stated: “The NRA the leading purveyor of the noxious notion that guns are legitimate tools of political dissent, will be standing in the historic shadow of Dr. King, the apostle of non-violent protest.” Eric Deadwiley

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