US: Massive march for ‘justice or else’ in capital

WASHINGTON

Hundreds of thousands from around the U.S., chanting for justice and change in policing against the black community, poured to the National Mall in the American capital Saturday to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Million Man March.

The crowd, spreading down into the area between the Washington Monument and U.S. Capitol, enjoyed the sunny fall day waving flags, carrying placards, and listening to the music and speeches via giant screens placed in the park.

The key attendee of the rally themed "Justice or Else" was Louis Farrakhan, a leader of the Black Muslim civil rights movement Nation of Islam who spearheaded the original march on Oct. 16, 1995.

During his speech at the stage situated in western steps of the Capitol, he said the anniversary gathering of the Million Man March would just be “vanity” if the black community fail to change itself and step up against social injustices within the community or injustices against blacks committed by the government.

The 82-year old activist praised the “Black Lives Matter” movement that emerged following the deaths of several unarmed blacks at the hands of police, warning that police brutality in the U.S. might cause a social explosion.

“This thing has reached the point of explosion,” Farrakhan said. "Even people of color at high places can't take it no more. It's like a volcanic explosion that's coming now.”

He called on the administration of President Barack Obama to deal with the human rights violations and police brutality against minorities in the U.S. before expressing concerns over human rights records in China or Cuba.

Unarmed blacks who were killed by police -- including 17-year-old Trayvon Martin who was shot dead in 2012 in Florida and 18-year-old Michael Brown in 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri -- were commemorated at the gathering.