‘Reclaiming the Dream’ rally touts liberal causes, slams Beck

Though the crowd’s size likely numbered in the thousands, officials on scene would not speculate on the number in attendance.

As Sharpton led the long march through Washington, D.C. streets, the large crowd chanted “we want action!”, “no justice, no peace!”, “M-L-K!”, and sang “We Shall Overcome.” Nearing the Mall, marchers came into contact with participants dispersing from Beck’s rally, which had concluded a bit earlier. Though there were some minor verbal exchanges, the two groups carried on without major incident.

Two marchers who identified themselves only as Kathy and Lydia from New York said they had attended Sharpton’s rally “in response to the teabaggers — enough is enough.”

Lydia took special issue with Beck, whom she described as “a little nuts,” and quipped that “King had a dream; Beck had a scheme.”

Martin Luther King III, the eldest son of Martin Luther King, Jr., spoke to the crowd as the march ended at the proposed site for his father’s memorial. He told the audience they need to “raise the standards” for elected officials and strive to realize the dream his father recounted some 47 years ago.