Thousands March To 'Keep Vote Alive"

An estimated 100,000 people from all over the U.S. jammed downtown Atlanta and marched with Rev. Jesse Jackson to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act -- and to urge Congress to renew the historic piece of legislation.

The march began about an hour late at the Russell Federal Building, partly because of the large number of dignitaries taking part in the event. Politicians from Atlanta mayor Shirley Franklin to U.S. Reps. Charles Rangel (D-NY) and Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) joined entertainers Harry Belafonte and Stevie Wonder and thousands of chanting and singing demonstrators for the "Keep The Vote Alive" event that streamed down Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and wound up at Morris Brown College's Herndon Stadium for a rally.

Organizers hope the Congress and President Bush will extend key provisions of the landmark law, which was signed in 1965 by President Lyndon Johnson. The law expires in 2007. "Forty years later, we're still marching for the right to vote," said U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-GA), who participated in the civil rights struggles that helped secure passage of the law."Don't give up, don't give in. Keep the faith, keep your eyes on the prize."

At the raucous rally at Herndon Stadium, Jackson took the stage and energized supporters with his trademark quotes of "I am somebody" and "Keep hope alive.
"The right to vote does not endanger, but we must protect it against discrimination," Jackson said.

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