Despite dreary weekend weather, members of the Black and Latino Caucuses along with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their allies united to create coalitions through the Liberation Conference and Rally.

About 150 students marched hand in hand at 3 p.m. from the HUB-Robeson Center to the Old Main steps. Assata Richards (graduate-sociology) gathered the participants at the HUB before the march to remind them of the event's cause.

"Students of color are ignored on the campus, by students, administration and the people in town," she said. "Things happen, but we will not stop struggling."

The crowd walked through the rain, carrying a liberation banner while chanting "Now More Than Ever," a communal prayer.

"Common blood flows through common veins, and common eyes all see the same," chanted the participants as they approached Old Main, where they formed a circle on the steps and were asked to recall the first rally, which took place in 2001.

"We come back every year because we don't fight one time and win," Richards said. "As long as the struggle is here I am committed to being here and so are you."

Participants marched back to the HUB Auditorium for an afternoon of featured speakers.

Students seated in the HUB looked on as the crowd marched through, chanting, "No peace, no justice. No justice, no peace."

Ingrid Rivera, a black, Puerto Rican, lesbian performance artist and activist, was important to many of the groups at the rally because she represents unity between minority groups.

Rivera performed a poem about Thomas Jefferson and his slave, Sally Hemmings, which she wrote in response to a television movie that implied there was a loving relationship between the master and his slave. The poem dealt with issues of rape, racism, slavery and freedom.

Tiffanie Lewis, president of Black Caucus, said Rivera was perfect for calling people of all groups to action. "Through her poetry and charisma, she inspires people to get involved," Lewis said.

Kathleen Cleaver, former member of the Black Panthers, an activist group from the civil rights movement, spoke about spanning generations with struggles for freedom.

"You all hope that what you're doing won't carry over to your children and grandchildren," Cleaver said. "You have gained freedom that your grandparents didn't have. You have freedom to go to a university, where your experience is then marked by violence, disrespect, insult and stigma."

Cleaver said one of the goals of the Black Panthers was to "empower the people."

She said that most groups are not lacking in leadership, but in organization, and asked future leaders do the same when motivating other generations.

Jameka Neil (senior-journalism) addressed the crowd as a Penn State student who is active in the struggle to develop equality on campus.

"I was here when this began," Neil said through tears. "Each of us has to keep moving for those of us who have had one too many hits on one too many home fronts."

She said students who could envision a perfect world are "crazy," but they must not give up hope.

"We are not the minority, we are the majority," said Neil.

Finally, crowd favorite Jeffrey Johnson of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, took the stage.

Johnson was at Penn State two years ago to celebrate the first march and rally.

He said he was extremely excited by the attendance at this year's rally, and he looks forward to increased motivation and participation from those involved in the movement.

"It's not about how many people come next year, it's about how much change we effect between now and then," Johnson said to a cheering crowd.

He asked that the younger students on campus begin to step into leadership positions so that progress will move forward.

Anesha Ali, vice president of Black Caucus, said that despite the rainy weather, this year's rally had the greatest turnout.

The event was aimed toward raising awareness about hate-related incidents that have affected minority groups on campus.

"Threats can't be taken as empty promises," she said. "This is in the vast interest of all people and if they're not willing to do anything about it, we are, and we're gonna push everyone to do something."

Yesterday's march was part of a conference entitled "Now More Than Ever: I No Longer Fight Alone," which focused on forming coalitions between minority groups on campus. The conference kicked off Social Justice Action Month, which aims to inform students about issues like coming out, facing eating disorders and dealing with racial opposition.