Washington Counts on a Crush During the Million Man March

WASHINGTON —  There will be no marching and no one knows how many men will be here. But the nation’s capital is scrambling to get ready for an influx of buses and people for next week’s Million Man March.

Capitol Police urged members of Congress and their staffs to car-pool to work on Monday, warning all commuters to expect clogged roads and jammed subways during the all-day event for black men.

“You’ve really got to plan for the most; if they say a million, that’s what you plan for,” U.S. Park Service spokeswoman Sandra Alley said Wednesday. “Realistically, what it’s going to be, we don’t know yet.”

Sam Jordan, director of the city’s office of emergency preparedness, said the city is planning for at least 500,000 people to attend.

The event, also called “a day of atonement,” will bring black men together for prayer, reflection and inspirational speakers. Organizers have asked black women to stay home while the men gather to atone for past sins and commit themselves to uplifting their families and communities.