“I'm convinced that — not just this event, but this time period — is going to be remembered as the beginning of the great awakening in America,” he said. "For too long, this country has wandered in darkness," said Beck, adding it was now time to "concentrate on the good things in America, the things we have accomplished and the things we can do tomorrow." Today, we are going to concentrate on the good things in America.” 
 
 Mr. Beck was followed on stage by Sarah Palin, the 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate and former Alaska governor. King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, five years later. Yet, many of those at the event Saturday said they had been motivated to come by faith. It's going to be a defibrillator to the spiritual heart of America.” 
 
 During an intermission interview with "Insider Extreme," Beck described the weekend's origins: “We were on our knees and we were all begging God: 'We — we need some help we need — help us here.' “A good number of people are not happy with the direction we’re going.” 
 
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 Asked whether his ability to mobilize so large a crowd meant that he should be considered for a 2012 presidential ticket with Ms. Palin, Mr. Beck replied, “Not a chance.” 
 
 He said he had “zero desire” to be president, adding, “I don’t think that I would be electable.” 
 
 Across town, several hundred people, most of them black, packed a football field at Dunbar High School to commemorate Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. “We come here because the dream has not been achieved,” said the Rev. And Sharpton said that goes against the message in King's speech, in which the civil rights leader appealed to the federal government to ensure equality.
– Some highlights from the Glenn Beck rally, as rounded up by the Times, Post, Politico, and AP: Beck: "For too long, this country has wandered in darkness. ... We have had moments of brilliance and moments of darkness. But this country has spent far too long worried about scars and thinking about the scars and concentrating on the scars. Today, we are going to concentrate on the good things in America, the things that we have accomplished—and the things that we can do tomorrow." Beck again: “America today begins to turn back to God.” Attendance: No official crowd estimates, as per usual. The phase of choice in coverage seems to be "tens of thousands." Sarah Palin: ""We must not fundamentally transform America, as some would want. We must restore America and restore her honor. Here today, at the crossroads of our history, may this day be the change point." Palin again: "You are Americans! You have the same steel spine and the moral courage of Washington and Lincoln and Martin Luther King. It is in you. It will sustain you as it sustained them."