Beck calls on nation to “return to God” as counter rally draws on King’s “dream” for inspiration

TRANSCRIPT:

Over the weekend, right wing political commentator and radio host Glenn Beck gathered prominent leaders from the Tea Party movement, including former Vice-President nominee Sarah Palin, to speak on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. The day of the rally, Saturday August 28th, also marked the 47th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, held in the same location. Across town the Reverend Al Sharpton organized a march titled “Reclaim the Dream” to provide a counter view. Brad Kutner has the story.

In front of The Lincoln Memorial, radio personality and Fox News host, Glenn Beck, and former Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin spoke to more than 200,000 people. Although the crowd was mostly white, the “Restoring Honor” rally also featured Dr. Alveda King, the niece of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who gave the historic “I Have a Dream” speech at the same location during the march on Washington 47 years ago.

Beck said he organized the rally to ask the nation to return to traditional values like those of America’s forefathers. Many in the crowd traveled long distances to attend, including Jenny Bywater from Hyrum, Utah. She said she wants to get God back into the country.

JENNY BYWATER: A lot of this crazy stuff started when we no longer could even pray for ourselves in our schools or events. We’re not trying to impinge religion on anyone else. We’re just saying let us have ours. I’m kind of tired of those who don’t believe making it so that we can't. Getting in the way of our rights.

God was a prominent theme at the event. John Stall is chair of Central Pennsylvania’s Berks Tea Party. He said his interest in the day’s message was based on his interpretation of the Founding Father’s faith.

JOHN STALL: Well, I think it’s a rededication to the principals that founded this country including the first thing we ever did which was to invoke God.

Although the event was billed as non-political, not all participants complied. Jim Revier from Fort Washington, Maryland wore a Captain America costume and waved his father’s Marine Corps flag.

JIM REVIER: Save the county. Family, God, country, constitution. And stop the Marxist communist take over from the executive department, the house, and the senate. Tell the Republicans to do their job and tell the Democrats to shape up or ship out.

The Restoring Honor event ended around 1 p.m. An hour later, Al Sharpton’s “Reclaim the Dream” march made its way down Independence Avenue. Thousands participated. Although the crowd was more diverse than the Beck rally, most participants were African-American. Many walked arm in arm, chanting or yelling slogans in support of social justice and equality.

Fred Mass came from White Plains, New Jersey for the march. He said it was his chance to pay back civil rights activists of the past.

FRED MASS: Once in a life time chance baby. Bring the dream back. Someone’s gotta pave the way for the youngsters behind us. Somebody paved the way for me. I gotta pave the way for others.

He stayed positive when asked about the Glenn Beck rally, though he disagreed with the views of the event.

MASS: Everybody’s got the right to speak their mind. It be better if everybody speak on one accord for the right reasons, but this is still America. It’s a free country.

Maryland resident Kimberly Melon brought her teenage son, Mark, to the event. She said different issues pushed her to participate.

KIMBERLY MELON: I think I had a lot of confusion as to exactly why I wanted to come. I know I wanted to honor MLK and his dream. I was motivated by Glenn Beck’s negativity and I think there is too much of that in America. And right now I’m looking at our middle class struggling and I think we all need help and I think we have to be there for each other. And I don’t like hatred, and that’s all I hear from someone like him.

The “Reclaim the Dream” march started at a D.C. high school and made the five mile trip to the future site of the Martin Luther King Memorial. At a speech before the march, Sharpton said Martin Luther King’s dream was still incomplete.

AL SHARPTON: We come because the dream has not been achieved. We made a lot of progress, but we still have a long way to go.

Other speakers at the event used the chance to discuss issues such as gay rights, education, unemployment, and statehood for D.C.

With assistance from Frances Correa, I’m Brad Kutner, FSRN, Washington.