Source: U.S. Newswire
http://www.usnewswire.com/topnews/qtr2_2003/0523-111.html
On May 23, 2003 the U.S. Newswire reported that "thousands are expected to assemble in the nation's capital on Saturday, May 24, to protest what is viewed by many in the Muslim and civil rights community as the erosion of civil rights and civil liberties under the Bush-Ashcroft administration. The march and rally, called Muslim Solidarity Day for Justice and Peace, sponsored by Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation, America's largest Muslim grassroots organization, will commence at 12 noon at Freedom Plaza... The group will be joined by several peace, justice, religious and civil rights organizations and will include speakers such as Imam Siraj Wahaj, former Congressman Rev. Walter Fauntroy, Ron Daniels (Center for Constitutional Rights), Congressman John Conyers, a representative from Congressman Dennis Kucinich's office, Rev. Al Sharpton, Mara Verheyden-Hillard (Partnership for Civil Justice), Dr. Jamal Badawi, Brian Becker (International Action Center), Hillary Shelton (NAACP), and Mahdi Bray, executive director of MAS Freedom, and representatives from the following organizations: Muslim American Society, MANA, SEIU, AFL-CIO, ADC-Boston, Rainbow PUSH Coalition, American For a Fair Chance, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, People for the American Way, NAACP, Islamic Circle of North America, American Muslim Council, AFL-CIO, Peace Action Network, Center for Constitutional Rights, members of the national interfaith community and many more."