Farrakhan Appeals to Jail Inmates on ‘Day of Atonement’

Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, marking the second anniversary of the “Million Man March,” urged about 300 jail inmates on Thursday to leave behind their lives of crime.

Farrakhan, observing what he calls the “Holy Day of Atonement,” said the Cook County inmates should reestablish their connection to God.

Farrakhan had called on people to stay home from work and school Thursday to mark the anniversary of the 1995 march on Washington, and thousands responded by attending rallies across the country to honor the occasion.

After a Muslim prayer service, the inmates whistled and gave Farrakhan a standing ovation.

“The Day of Atonement means saying, ‘I’m sorry for whatever I did to ill affect others and hurt myself,’ ” he said.

‘ “I want to be the man God intended me to be.’ ”

In Hartford, Conn., hundreds of people, mostly black men and women, turned out for a ceremony at the state Capitol. Speakers addressed issues ranging from gangs and violence to voter registration and diversity in schools.

In Washington, Mayor Marion Barry, who has been fasting since Tuesday as a show of solidarity, granted leave for workers who wanted to participate in 24 hours of fasting, prayer and reconciliation. City officials said they do not know how many missed work.

About 300 people attended a rally in St. Louis, and one was planned in Kansas City, Mo., where Mayor Emanuel Cleaver preferred that students “go to school and get all A’s today” rather than miss classes, said spokeswoman Pam Whiting.

In Baltimore, people gathered at a city park for sunrise prayer services. During the day, a small crowd gathered in front of City Hall to read from a list of principles of the day of atonement.

Fewer than 100 people showed up at a rally in Indianapolis. Organizer Damon Muhammad, a Muslim minister, said the sparse turnout was an example of “materialism defeating spiritualism,” but a start, nonetheless.

“I believe this day will grow and gain the respect that it deserves,” he said.