Thousands of Young People Flock to Washington for Christian Rally
WASHINGTON — Thousands of teenagers and young adults, many singing hymns and wearing T-shirts with religious slogans, jammed the Capitol on Monday to declare their faith in Jesus and “revive our nation’s consciousness.â€
Organizers had predicted up to 250,000 people for the two-day Washington for Jesus rally, but far fewer were on hand by late Monday afternoon. The National Park Police said no crowd estimate would be available until after today’s events.
Chartered buses from as far away as California rimmed the Capitol grounds. Many of the young people set up tents or unrolled sleeping bags in preparation for speeches and music scheduled to go on all night.
The rally was set up by One Nation Under God Inc., a nonprofit group based in Virginia Beach, Va., that organizes evangelical rallies. Monday’s events were targeted at teens and young adults, while today’s events were expected to draw people of all ages.
Actress Kim Norris, 29, who has appeared on TV’s “Seinfeld†and “Northern Exposure,†told the crowd that Christianity was not “some stodgy right-wing religion.â€
“It’s a fun-packed, wild and crazy adventure,†she said.
Scheduled speakers today will include television ministers Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson and Norma McCorvey, the plaintiff in the Roe vs. Wade decision who has become an abortion opponent.
Organizers said the rally was intended to show America that its young people aren’t as aimless and apathetic as they often are portrayed.
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