The Rev. Al Sharpton delivered a fiery speech Saturday morning in front of the Lincoln Memorial to thousands of people who rallied to restore attention to progressive policy ideas about jobs, public education and justice. 

Following a speech by a college student, Sharpton compared up the upcoming midterm elections to a college midterm examination.

"We have to go home and hit the pavement for our midterm exam," he said. "We are going to pass the midterm exam."

Organizers of the "One Nation Working Together" march to the Lincoln Memorial also held smaller companion events throughout the country. The events come exactly a month before the Nov. 2 elections and about a month after Glenn Beck's rally in D.C.

In L.A., the event is being held at L.A. City College from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

About 400 organizations joined to put on the national event in D.C., including labor unions, faith-based organizations, human and civil rights advocates, environmental groups and gay rights groups.

Many saw the march as the liberal response to Beck's rally. But NAACP president Benjamin Jealous, one of the event’s organizers, denied the connection to Beck’s rally and said this one was planned before Beck’s Aug. 28 gathering.

Jealous said the rally was nonpartisan, but organizers wanted the rally to inspire attendees to vote and change America’s future.

To reach reporter Paresh Dave, click here.

Find him on Twitter: @peard33.

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