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Few Non-Blacks Attended "Millions More Movement"

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  • Few Non-Blacks Attended "Millions More Movement"

    FEW NON-BLACKS ATTENDED "MILLIONS MORE MOVEMENT"
    by Kristina A. Maury

    Chicago Defender, IL
    Oct 17 2005

    Despite Minister Louis Farrakhan's goal of reaching out and uniting
    with Latinos, Asians and Native Americans, only a few non-Black faces
    dotted the crowd at the Millions More Movement. Yet, those few who
    attended did so because they felt Farrakhan's call for unity was
    necessary in order to overcome hardships and make America a stronger
    nation.

    Not only was this event more diverse than the Million Man March,
    including gay rights activists, a large number of non-Muslims,
    women and children, but this year's event definitely had more of
    an international flair. This was evident in many aspects of the
    movement. Performer Wyclef Jean rapped two verses in French and
    Spanish; American Indian leader Russell Means delivered a speech; and
    Ricardo Alarcon, the speaker of the Cuban National Assembly, addressed
    the crowd in a video message. Not to mention that, the official
    Millions More Movement website is available in Spanish as well.

    In his long-awaited speech, Farrakhan said, "The time has never been
    more right for a strategic relationship between the Black, brown,
    Native American and poor."

    Share your thoughts on this story on the ChicagoDefender.com message
    board.

    Farrakhan also spoke of uniting with other ethnic groups and expressed
    his belief that there is power in numbers.

    "Think about 40 million Black people united; 45 million Latinos
    united; 4 or 5 million Native Americans united; think about poor folk
    united. Think about the impact that we will have," he said.

    The poor, disadvantaged and oppressed were one in the same at the
    event on Saturday.

    Jose Gonzalez, 27, and his brother Steve Gonzalez, 25, traveled from
    New Jersey to attend the Millions More Movement. The Gonzalez brothers,
    who are Puerto Rican, attended for numerous reasons.

    Despite how the U.S government and leaders may appear to non-Americans,
    Jose expressed his belief that "the poor people of the world are
    going to see we are united." In his opinion, the Black and Latino
    community are one.

    His brother, Steve, added, "This is no longer a Black and white thing,
    but a class thing."

    Kevin Shaknazarian, 25, from Los Angeles, is an Armenian originally
    from the Soviet Union. Shaknazarian said that it was important for
    people to come out, regardless of their circumstance.

    "You don't get a real sense of this unless you are here," he said.

    Shaknazarian said that being Armenian, he can relate with the struggles
    of life as well. In his opinion, the event was universal.

    He stressed that humans are not too different from one another.

    "Of the billions of people on earth, 94 percent of us want the same
    thing: Peace, prosperity and a home of their own," he said.

    Raphael Perrino, 20, and his father also attended the event. The
    Perrinos are Italians from Virginia. Raphael is a member of the
    Neo-Underground Railroad Conductors, a group that stresses the
    importance of unity.

    "I believe fervently that Martin Luther King's movement was essential
    but I also believe the Black power movement that occurred afterwards
    was essential," he said.

    Raphael stated that he thinks that King's movement was more of a
    damage control as opposed to Farrakhan's movement, which he believes
    is disaster relief.

    "To have disaster relief you have to have justice, you have to have
    unity, you have to have power and that's what I believe Farrakhan is
    about and that's why I am here today," he said.

    Although the vast majority of individuals in the crowd were Black,
    the attendants who were of other ethnicities were just as enthusiastic
    and passionate as the majority.

    "I am here watching the work of Jesus," said Jose Gonzalez. "This is
    an amazing event you're witnessing. It's really a cry out for peace."

    Kristina A. Maury is a student at Howard University who covered the
    Millions More Movement for the Chicago Defender.
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