Cincinnatians who traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in the March for Justice events last weekend said they were energized by the activities, to return to Cincinnati with a renewed effort to “Reclaim the Dream’’ of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for a better world for all people.

C. marchers braved sweltering heat in the “Reclaim the Dream” march. PHOTO: Roy Lewis “This was a great event and great message for people to reaffirm their commitment to rebuild their communities,’’ said Victoria Straughn, part of the Cincinnati NAACP contingent who attended the events. “The message was for us to return home to our respective communities and recommit to rebuilding them. This is very difficult, hard work, for we are talking about providing affordable housing for lowincome families, improving education opportunities for our children, and focusing on getting out the vote in the November elections. These are difficult times that call for rolling up our sleeves and getting to work on these issues.’’

“Justice.” That one word encompassed the sentiments of the throng of thousands Saturday who weaved for miles through the streets of Washington, D.C. behind civil rights leaders, chanting, singing and shouting demands from the powers that be. “What do we want? … Justice! … Now!” This was the clarion call that went out from Rev. Al Sharpton’s “Reclaim the Dream” rally and march, adding fuel to an obvious rekindling of a movement to refocus attention back on the plight of the historically oppressed – largely Black people in America.

Straughn noted that the marchers were standing on the shoulders of their ancestors who 47 years ago moved on Washington to make their voices heard for justice and economic parity.

“They marched and lifted their voices to make this na- tion better for a generation yet unseeen, and we also marched as our obligation to help make things better for the coming generation,’’ she said.

Urban League President Marc Morial impressed her the most when he spoke about African Americans focusing on getting out the vote to counter the Tea Party movement, which is becoming a force to be reckoned with, she said.

“I hope we understand as we observe in love that this is not about a left side or a right side. This is about God’s side in terms of doing that which is good, just and right for all of America,’’ Sharpton said. “That’s what Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream was about.” A rally on the same day, led by Fox News host Glenn Beck, leader of the conservative Tea Party movement, which is widely known for its anti- Obama and perceptually anti- Black perspective, received most of the media attention. The Beck crowd stood on the Washington Mall in a “Restoring Honor” rally that drew a near-solidly White crowd to the same spot – the Lincoln Memorial – where Dr. King gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Beck had said the date of his rally was a coincidence, but many saw it as disrespectful to King’s legacy.

Other marches last weekend in Detroit and in New Orleans underscored that people around the nation are mobilizing.

Congressman Steve Driehaus (D-Price Hill) provided support for 18 members of the Avondale Youth Council to make the trip to the nation’s capital. The youth set the tone for the weekend by first visiting the America I Am exhibit Friday before riding to Washington.

Once in Washington, the day for them started out at renowned Paul Dunbar High School, the first high school for Blacks in the country, where NAACP President Ben Jealous, Urban League President Marc Morial, Talk Show Host Tom Joyner, Rev. Al Sharpton, spoke on a range of topics from the importance to African American unity to the significance of getting out to vote.

After the rally, the march proceeded from the high school to the building site of the Martin Luther King Memorial. This five mile march gave youth and adults a true picture as to the physical sacrifice marchers of the Sixties experienced as well as the joy of unity and common struggle. Many spoke of this being their first civil rights involvement in their lifetimes and said it was an experience they will never forget.

Cincinnati activist Iris Roley, who also was there, said, “The fight for human, civil and individual rights is not over,’’ Roley said. “It is always humbling to be among those likeminded people from all walks of life throughout the country who are experiencing the same troubling environments where we hear the hate, the attacks on the current (Obama) Administration, and the constant bickering about helping the least of us to have affordable housing, health care and jobs.’’

Hazel Trice Edney, NNPA Editor-in-Chief, Daniel Watkins, Avondale Youth Council President, and Dan Yount of The Cincinnati Herald contributed to this stor