Tens of thousands of Americans will be in Washington, D.C. on Saturday to attend the "Restoring Honor" rally, led by talk show host Glenn Beck.

The rally is designed to honor America's heroes and heritage. Beck plans to speak from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. He will be joined on stage by Sarah Palin, Dr. Alveda King (a niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.), and country music recording artist Jo Dee Messina.

However, Beck is drawing heat from some civil rights leaders about the timing of his event.

Saturday is the 47th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial, and Beck's critics said his message doesn't fit into Dr. King's unifying legacy.

"His attitude and his hatred of other people who don't agree with him is so obvious and blatant that there's no place for that in this spot right here," said opponent Doug Kralowetz.

"I just don't understand the timing," Tanya Phillips, another Beck opponent. "I think everything is deliberate and I just want more unity for America."

Rev. Al Sharpton and others have planned to stage marches near the memorial to celebrate King's legacy.

Beck said it's pure coincidence that his rally is on the same date. He tried to get a date in September, but he said it wasn't available.

"It's not necessarily political," said Beck supporter Jack Fitch. "It's not racial. It's not anything. Its just the direction our country headed down the wrong path."

Beck said the rally is simply about honoring great American heroes, America's heritage, and the hope for its future -- and the idea that America must remain virtuous to remain free.

Many Tea Party groups are supporting the event. The grassroots movement has proven its skeptics of a year ago wrong. It has become a powerful force in the midterm elections, knocking out a handful of incumbents through primaries.

In an effort to keep politics out of his rally, Beck is asking participants to leave their trademark and sometimes notorious signs at home.