Unity was the theme of the second annual H K on J — historic thousands on Jones Street — march and rally Saturday in Raleigh.

An estimated 8,000-10,000 people attended this year’s rally, up about 50 percent from last year.

“It was a demonstration of power and support,” said Jarvis Hall, director of N.C. Central University’s Academic Service Learning Program.

Area leaders, community members and students belted aloud the words of “Lift Every Voice,” as the march began in Chavis Park and concluded on Jones St in front of the N.C. State Building.

Once there, supporters and activists rendered a 14-point agenda to advance civil rights.

“A Movement, Not a Moment,” was the message that area activists like the Rev. William Barber, II conveyed.

Barber, a former NCCU student and SGA president, spoke about how this was not just a one day event.

“There are over 100 branches working to keep this going,” said Barber of the NAACP.

Barber stressed the need to stay focused on a single agenda.

“You can’t separate the points, it’s like trying to separate your wrist hand from your arm and your arm from your shoulder, you just can’t do it,” said Barber.

Some of the key points addressed at the rally included livable wages for low income families, affordable health care and increased funding for HBCUs.

The Rev. Nelson Johnson made the case for reparations for African-American families who suffered during 1898 Wilmington race riots and for black women who were forcibly sterilized in North Carolina from 1947-77.

NCCU mass communication senior Marquita McAlpine spoke about the need for increased funding to support HBCUs.

“We have been seeing other predominately white schools get their share and we’re wondering where our share is,” McAlpine, mass communication senior.

War veteran Jason Hurd, called for the immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

A NAACP “report card” gave N.C. state legislature and overall grade of D+ for meeting the issues raised at last year’s rally.