Nation of Islam Wants Million Man March Anniversary Declared a Religious Holiday

Lots of strong opinions surrounded the suggestion, which almost turnedinto a debate over the policies of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.The school said the rules cannot allow it to release students for such anevent. Whether or not absences are excused at individual schools will beleft up to principals.

Farrakhan and Durham followers want school officials to excuse studentsto honor the second anniversary, but some people think it's a bad idea.

Ronnie Sturdivant isn't a Nation of Islam follower, but he's sympatheticto the cause. He said with all of the challenges faced by today's youngpeople, they need a time of reckoning.

Ann Denlinger, Durham superintendent, said it's a simple equation. Therewill be no system-wide holiday on October 16.

Denlinger said she's following the rules. There are a minimum number ofdays a student must attend to be passed on to the next grade. She said shewould rather see people do events like this on the weekend, and one groupin Durham is sponsoring one. This Saturday is Black Family Day at HillsidePark, and event that will take place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. It's beingpublicized as a day of unity, and people said it will be a better way tomark the event than taking a day off of school.

The Million Man March was held on the Washington Mall Oct. 16th, 1995. This October 25th, African-American women will gather in Philadelphia forthe Million Woman March. Services, speeches and spiritual rallies willbegin at sunrise and last straight through sunset. Similar to the MillionMan March, the mission will be to strengthen the African Americancommunity.