About 250,000 people turned out Saturday for a colorful Labor Day-weekend rally to protest President Bush's domestic policies and remind elected officials that organized labor still had clout.
In addition to trade unions, about 180 civil rights, environmental, religious and other groups marched down Constitution Avenue from behind the White House to the Capitol in muggy, 90-degree temperatures.The U.S. Park Police estimated the crowd at 250,000. The AFL-CIO, sponsor of the event, said the turnout equalled that of 10 years ago at the last such "Solidarity Day."
AFL-CIO President Lane Kirkland, Jesse Jackson and other lesser known union leaders walked with thousands of union members wearing brightly colored T-shirts proclaiming their union affiliation.
Labors leaders had wanted a big, boisterous demonstration to signal strong support for health care reform, workplace rights, higher pay, investment in education and other reforms.
A color guard of Gulf War veterans led the march, which wound up with speeches and entertainment on the Washington Mall near the Capitol. Among the entertainers were Willie Nelson, Pete Seeger and Arlo Guthrie.