THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 13, 1995 TAG: 9510130733
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CHARLISE LYLES, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines
Monday will be a long day for thousands of locals who travel to Washington for the Million Man March, where black men from across the country are expected to gather in a massive demonstration.
The march, organized by Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam, and the Rev. Benjamin Chavis, former head of the NAACP, summons black men to the nation's capital for a ``holy day of atonement.''
Up to 40 busloads from Hampton Roads plan to leave no later than 10 p.m. Sunday to arrive in Washington by 4 a.m. in hopes of avoiding rush-hour traffic jams.
Today, at 645 Church St., stragglers still can sign up for the bus trip to Washington. WSVY-Radio will be broadcasting live, promoting the march. Or, they can telephone 627-3100 until Sunday evening.
Groups from local churches and other organizations plan to depart from three locations: Tower Mall in Portsmouth, Military Circle in Norfolk and Coliseum Mall in Hampton.
According to march organizers in Washington, buses will travel in a convoy to designated drop-off points throughout the capital. Some buses may unload passengers at subway stations where they can catch rail cars to the march site in downtown Washington.
State police say they expect no interruption of traffic flow.
To accommodate marchers, Metro will begin operating subways an hour earlier - at 4:30 a.m. - and run on a rush hour schedule all day, an official said. Marchers who ride will need at least $5 to purchase fare cards from machines.
All week, Metro officials have warned regular riders to expect crowds and delays on Monday. Capital Police have urged congressional workers to carpool.
To reserve Washington-area parking provided by march organizers, locals can call 202-726-8810. The cost of parking is $10 for cars and $20 for buses. But organizers urged people not to drive into Washington, fearing major traffic crunches on a work day.
By 5 a.m. Monday, marchers plan to assemble at a stage on the west steps of the Capitol building facing the National Mall. The rally of African-American men is expected to cover the grounds of the Washington Monument and stretch west to the Lincoln Memorial.
U.S. Park Police will close off Jefferson and Madison drives and several others streets in the mall area in anticipation of large crowds. Though estimates are uncertain, as many as 500,000 are expected, according to the city's office of emergency preparedness.
The demonstration focuses outward at government injustices against black men and inward at a renewed determination among black men to take responsibility for family and community.
Farrakhan has called for a national boycott, urging blacks to take the day off from work and not to spend money.
In Arlington, school officials suspended bus service for its 7,400 students because half of the district's 87 drivers plan to attend.
The preliminary march program will begin at 7 a.m., with prayer, African drumming and other entertainment. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., speakers will take the podium.
Among those scheduled are Chavis, Farrakhan, mother of civil rights Rosa Parks, poet Maya Angelou and Dorothy Height of the National Council of Negro Women. Though a gathering of men, women are welcome.
A post-march program is scheduled from 4 to 8 p.m. to keep marchers on the mall until regular rush-out traffic has cleared.
Marchers should gear up with comfortable shoes and clothes, a rain poncho, at least a quart of water, a lawn chair, light foods and a medical alert bracelet, if necessary. All medical emergencies will be referred to area hospitals.
Seating will be provided for the elderly and handicapped. ILLUSTRATION: Map
KEN WRIGHT/Staff
Graphic
WEEKEND EVENTS
On the eve of the march, several fund-raising events will be at
the Hyatt Regency Hotel at 400 New Jersey Avenue in Washington:
Saturday 9-11 a.m. prayer breakfast, tickets $50.
7 p.m. social hour and silent auction.
8 p.m. dinner and music, tickets $100.
7 p.m. Sunday, a final rally at the Washington Convention Center
at 9th and H streets N.W.
by CNB