Sharpton Rises From the Ashes

January 24, 2003 -- The Rev. Al Sharpton stood outside his charred Harlem headquarters yesterday, a day after a fire swept through the three-story building, and vowed it would be rebuilt.

"From the ashes of yesterday, a phoenix will rise on this spot," the civil rights leader said at a news conference where he was joined by former Mayor David Dinkins, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum and Dennis Rivera, president of Local 1199, the health workers union. The fire at the 125th Street building, home of Sharpton's National Action Network, came a day after he formally became a presidential contender.

Fire investigators have said they are focusing on an extension cord as the cause of the blaze.