August 28, 2010--Conservative
radio and
television host Glenn Beck led his Restoring Honor rally on the
steps of the Lincoln Memorial, declaring "America today is beginning to
turn back
to God." Forty-seven
years ago at the same location, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered
his "I have a Dream"
speech. Beck's rally, which benefitted the Special Operations
Warrior Foundation, drew many tens of thousands (crowd estimates ranged
from 87,000 to 500,000). Nearby Rev. Al Sharpton held a
considerably smaller "Restore the Dream" march
and rally to honor King's struggle for justice and
equality. Beck's Restoring Honor rally highlighted the themes of
faith, hope and charity. Beck urged Americans to turn
"back to the values and the principles that made us great."
"It
is up to us," he declared. In advance of the rally Beck
emphasized repeatedly that, "There
will be absolutely no
politics involved." Nonetheless, the presence of former Gov.
Sarah Palin as the main
invited speaker and the many Tea Party activists in the
crowd gave the event a political tone. There was also a strong
religious element throughout. Introducing 240 religious
leaders, Beck stated that "the black robe regiment is back again
today." "America is at a crossroads, and this is the point of
choice," Beck declared.
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