On April 1, 2006, approximately 4000 protesters gathered in a parking lot across the street from the New Orleans Convention Center to stage a rally to draw attention to the perceived unfairness of the upcoming municipal elections in New Orleans, followed by a march over the now infamous Cresent City Connection bridge over the Mississippi River from downtown New Orleans to the city of Gretna. During the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina Gretna police refused to allow a group trying to flee the chaos of New Orleans from crossing the bridge, stranding them in the New Orleans for days until help arrived. The rally and march were organized and led by the Reverend Jessee Jackson and the Reverend Al Sharpton.