NEW YORK - Thousands of people gathered in the streets near the United Nations yesterday for a rally called by Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, who demanded that the U.N. take action against the United States for the "genocide" of blacks and Native Americans.
The "Day of Atonement" rally, which organizers said was being broadcast by satellite across the country and around the world, was intended to commemorate the first anniversary of last year's Million Man March. But unlike the historic march in Washington, which brought together hundreds of thousands of African American men, yesterday's rally drew much smaller crowds, enjoyed little support from national black leaders, and featured an agenda crafted almost exclusively by Farrakhan.
In a 2 1/2-hour speech that many in the crowd at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza watched on two scoreboard-sized television monitors, Farrakhan called on the United States to acknowledge and take steps to repair the damage done by its past transgressions, including slavery and covert efforts to destabilize foreign governments.
Farrakhan also challenged the United Nations to "stand up" to the United States, which he said exerts undue influence on the world body, leading it to endorse "unjust" policies such as international sanctions against Iraq and Libya. Farrakhan's visits to those two countries, and his efforts to win U.S. government approval for a $1 billion gift from Libya have generated controversy.
The Nation of Islam leader also called on the United States to lift its economic embargo against Cuba. Many in the crowd applauded Farrakhan's speech and celebrated appearances by Winnie Mandela, the former wife of South African President Nelson Mandela, and recording star Stephanie Mills, who were among the few celebrities on the program. But the audience seemed less concerned with Farrakhan's foreign-policy agenda than in attempting to recapture the spirit of the Million Man March.
"I'm here because I wanted to be with the brothers and sisters to celebrate the anniversary of the march," said Ryan Yarborough, 25, a financial planner who played two years in the National Football League. "I really want to see my community improved and my people uplifted."
The midday rally was held less than a block from the offices of the Anti-Defamation League - for years both a target and nemesis of Farrakhan's - prompting a large show of force by the New York police. And despite threats of counter protests by Jewish groups who consider Farrakhan to be an anti-Semite, only one small band of protesters materialized. Police reported no problems.
Through much of his address to the 20,000 to 30,000 people gathered here Wednesday, Farrakhan focused on the conservative message of personal responsibility that has been one of his hallmarks. But Farrakhan also talked about his controversial tour of Africa and the Middle East earlier this year.
, including the stops in Libya, Iraq and Iran, which are considered terrorist-supporting nations by the United States.
"Terrorism is like beauty, it is in the eye of beholder," Farrakhan said at a U.N. news conference after his speech. "I see (Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi) as a victim of America's evil. I consider him a freedom fighter."
The rally came less than a month after Farrakhan and the Rev. Benjamin Chavis Jr., head of the National African-American Leadership Summit, hosted a national political convention in St. Louis that drew tiny crowds and virtually no support from national black political figures. The relatively modest turnout for the New York rally coming on the heels of the lightly attended political convention, was dismissed as insignificant by march organizers.
"We aren't attempting to repeat the Million Man March," Chavis said.
But even some who supported the Million Man March are calling the showing evidence of the failure of Farrakhan and Chavis to broaden their appeal.
"In fact, I think the thing has become more and more truncated," said Manning Marable, a professor at Columbia University who attended last year's event in Washington. Marable said he declined an invitation to speak at the recent political convention.
Marable called the budding alliance between Farrakhan and political extremist Lyndon LaRouche another indication that the march's national leaders are straying from a course favored by many African Americans.
The LaRouche organization, which frequently advances global conspiracy theories, has worked with the Nation of Islam in the past. But since the march, that connection has grown tighter with former LaRouche vice-presidential candidate and civil-rights activist James Bevel frequently appearing with Farrakhan.
Hugh Price, president of the National Urban League, attended a leadership summit called by Chavis and Farrakhan shortly after the Million Man March. But he did not attend their political convention nor the U.N. rally Wednesday. Farrakhan has his agenda, Price said in a recent interview, "and we have an agenda we're pursuing."
AP PHOTO
Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan addresses the Million Man March on Oct. 16, 1995, on Capitol Hill. In a lengthy oratory under the fading afternoon sun, Farrakan scolded, praised and encouraged the mass rally of black men and strengthened his claim to a growing leadership role among American blacks. The one-year anniversary of the march, the World Day of Atonement in New York, was observed yesterday, causing little stir.