ONWT RALLY DRAWS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS; DIVERSITY IS THE STAR OF THE SHOW

On October 2, hundreds of thousands of activists converged on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. to call for an end to the divisiveness and polarization that characterizes politics in America.  (All photos by Ove Overmyer)

Washington, D.C. -- A wide array of progressive groups drew tens of thousands of activists to the Lincoln Memorial on Saturday, October 2 for a rally aimed at firing up their members and showcasing the diversity of the movement called One Nation Working Together.

More than 400 groups endorsed the rally, which organizers said drew a crowd of 175,000 people - about what was expected. However, there are no official counts of crowds on the Mall, and the National Park Service no longer provides such estimates.

Thousands who support the Democratic Party and progressive issues made an overt bid to rejuvenate the liberal enthusiasm gap of voters and stave off an expected GOP comeback in next month's midterm elections.

It was the left wing's first large gathering designed to counter the conservative tea party phenomenon. Many speakers warned that a Republican-controlled Congress would block or roll back progressive changes. Organizers said they also wanted to show that their supporters represent the majority of the nation.

"This march was inclusive," said NAACP President Benjamin Jealous, one of the lead organizers. Jealous told The Washington Post, "We have seen cabdrivers come down from New York, truck drivers from Oklahoma. This is about moving the country with the spirit of unity and hope, and getting the country beyond the divisiveness."

The leaders of the march openly celebrated its diversity - in terms of race, age, classism, sexual orientation and the motivations of the attendees. It began with an ecumenical faith program, and groups supporting a variety of causes gathered in their own niches before joining together as one. The range of participants - who included a large contingent of labor unions, youth groups to members of the New York City Democratic Socialists of America and the Church of the Evangelical United Church of Christ - showed the tensions in the coalition were basically nonexistent.

Saturday's gathering featured many speakers, including AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, the Rev. Al Sharpton, and civil rights legends Julian Bond and Harry Belafonte. Four hours of speeches, poetry and music were sprinkled with testimonials from out-of-work Americans, immigrants, veterans and Native Americans. Speakers focused on jobs, education and human rights issues in particular.

The event occurred about one month after conservatives met on the same spot to unite around television personality Glenn Beck's vision of a nation returned to more traditional and religious values.

Ed Schultz, the host of MSNBC's "The Ed Show," served as one of the show's master of ceremonies and harshly criticized the tea party and conservatives. "They talk about the Constitution, but they don't want to live by it," he said to loud applause. "They talk about the forefathers, but they practice discrimination. They want to change this country."

Blanche Harling, who came from Rochester, N.Y. to D.C. on a bus with social justice advocates and public employees who belong to the Federation of Social Workers IUE-CWA Local 81381, said she was compelled to be there come hell or high water. "I scrambled to find a seat to get here, and I'm glad I came," she said. "This day has been so inspiring-- I am here to advocate for civil rights for all Americans, especially when it comes to marriage equality."

Steve Panton, Daniel Vitulli and Forrest Wright, who are CSEA represented employees of the City of Corning, N.Y., were at the march to show support for their fellow union workers. "I think it's an important day for the labor community. The crowd here is fabulous and everyone is getting along," said Wright.

The crowd Saturday, which stretched down the steps of the Lincoln Memorial then spanned down the sides of the reflecting pool, heard repeatedly that voters must band together to keep the country from going back to conservative policies. Speakers also called for a more robust jobs program funded by the federal government and the passage of big legislative programs, such as overhauling immigration laws and providing more money for education.

"We have to demand that the Congress represents the common man, not just the large multi-national corporations," said Rochester, N.Y. resident Mary Ann Sanford. Sanford is an ordained deacon of the Unity Fellowship Church movement.

It was very common to see people from all walks of life mingling about the mall near the reflecting pool. The socially conservative National Baptist Convention stood beside members of Pride At Work, AFL-CIO, an LGBT labor constituency group who had chapter members from Rochester and the District of Columbia. Additionally, members of the mine workers union rallied with environmental activists and peace advocates. The conversation between groups touched upon how a coalition of this size can be relevant, stay together and keep the movement strong.

Bess Watts, President of CSEA Local 828 and the Rochester and Finger Lakes Chapter President of Pride At Work, AFL-CIO, says that this is really just the beginning, not a one-day event. "Our challenge now is to keep our Congress intact, and move toward making our country a more just and inclusive nation."  She added, "This march and rally should be seen as a launching pad for real policy change."

To see a slideshow of the One Nation Working Together rally and march, you can go here. Photos and story by Ove Overmyer.