Holy Day of Atonement gathering Oct. 13 in Chicago

By Final Call News | Last updated: Oct 2, 2019 - 9:30:17 PM

CHICAGO—The 24nd anniversary commemoration of the Million Man March and Holy Day of Atonement will be marked by a major address by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan from Christ Universal Temple in the Windy City. Min. Farrakhan will deliver the address Oct. 13 from the church pulpit and the program will begin at 2 p.m. CDT. Christ Universal Temple is located at 11901 South Ashland Avenue. The event is free, and the public is invited. Doors will open at 1 p.m. and the program will be webcast live at www.noi.org. It will be streamed live at Nation of Islam mosques and study groups around the country.

Local mosques and study groups will also be holding events over the weekend. Check your local area for activity that may be happening near you.

Chicagoans, activists, advocates, leaders and Believers are looking forward to the upcoming message and event. The Nation of Islam headquarters is located in Chicago. Last year, Detroit welcomed the Minister and the Nation back to the Motor City where its work of spiritual resurrection and reform began. Min. Farrakhan spoke at the Aretha Franklin Amphitheater last year in what was a homecoming for the 88-year Islamic movement.

The Nation was founded July 4, 1930 with the appearance of the Great Mahdi Master Fard Muhammad. It was in Black Bottom Detroit where Master Fard Muhammad met, raised and cultivated thousands of Black men, women and children—among them, his top student and divine servant, the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, patriarch of the Nation of Islam.

The annual October gathering marks the anniversary of the 1995 Million Man March called by God through Min. Farrakhan. Two million Black men gathered in Washington, D.C. to declare their right to justice to atone for their failure as men and to accept responsibility as men.

On that day, Monday, October 16, 1995 there was a sea of Black men, many who stood for 10 hours or more sharing, learning, listening, fasting, hugging, crying, laughing, and praying. The day produced a spirit of brotherhood, love, and unity like never before experienced among Black men in America. All creeds and classes were present: Christians, Muslims, Hebrews, Agnostics, nationalists, Pan-Africanists, civil rights organizations, fraternal organizations, rich, poor, celebrities and people from nearly every organization, profession and walk of life were present. It was a day of atonement, reconciliation and responsibility.

The Million Man March has been called “one of the most historic organizing and mobilizing events in the history of Black people in the United States.”

Congress shut down that day and President William Clinton was “out of town.” Mainstream media in American and media outlets from around the world were watching. The world did not see thieves, criminals and savages as usually portrayed through mainstream music, movies and other forms of media; on that day, the world saw a vastly different picture of the Black man in America. The world saw Black men demonstrating the willingness to shoulder the responsibility of improving themselves and the community. There was neither one fight nor one arrest that day. There was no smoking or drinking. The Washington Mall, where the March was held, was left as clean as it was found. Two of the best descriptions of the Million Man March include the word “miracle” and the phrase “a glimpse of heaven.”

Along with those who attended, many men, women and children spent the day at home watching the event on television and participating in the day of fasting and absence. Workers did not go to work that day; children did not go to school that day and no one engaged in sport or play.

During Min. Farrakhan’s message to the millions gathered in the mall and those watching on television around the world that day, he explained to the world the need for atonement and he laid out the eight steps of atonement. Thus, for the past 24 years, people gather, reflect and observe the Holy Day of Atonement.

Nearly countless marches and campaigns have been sparked and spawned by the Million Man March, which set an incredible standard for public demonstrations and took the ceiling off of mass gatherings. There was Million Woman March, Millions for Reparations March, Million Mom March, Million Marijuana March, Million Mask March, Millions for Mumia March, Millions Against Mandatory Vaccinations March, Million Worker March, Million Father March, Million Youth March well as Nation of Islam’s gatherings, including the “Justice Or Else!” gathering in 2015 as well as a Million Family March and Millions More Movement in Washington, D.C.

At the conclusion of the 1995 March, the millions of men repeated a pledge given by Minister Farrakhan that focused on a personal commitment to be responsible and active in improving the Black community. The purpose was for Black men to take responsibility for their own actions and to help develop their own communities, and to atone for their lack of responsibility.

Many of the men assembled took the pledge given that day seriously and have been actively involved in making their word bond ever since. Businesses were formed, fathers embraced their children, voting increased, membership in Black organizations increased, and violence decreased immediately after the 1995 Million Man March. Nearly two million Black men registered to vote, and the National Association of Black Social Workers reported a flood of 13,000 applications to adopt Black children.

In a display of accountability, the Million Man March was the first ever public march to provide an independent Financial Audit of its operations. The audit report can be viewed at https://www.noi.org/million-man-march-financial-audit/.

For more event information visit www.noi.org.

Christ Universal Temple

The Final Call