By Kevin Aldridge
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Thousands of people will descend on the nation's capital today to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the March on Washington, where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech.

A busload of about 50 Cincinnatians departed from New Prospect Baptist Church in Over-the-Rhine Friday night, headed for Washington, D.C. to partake in the two-day event, which will include a prayer vigil, speeches, poetry readings, voter registration and a commemorative rally.

Passengers paid as much as $75 for a seat on the bus and a chance to relive one of the country's historical moments.

"I'm so excited that I've been packed since Tuesday. I just want to get a sense of that spirit African-Americans felt back in the 1960s,"said Tosha Davenport, 33, of Mount Airy.

"Hopefully, those of us who are going can bring back that spirit so we can get over some of the racial issues here in Cincinnati," she said.

E-mail kaldridge@enquirer.com