How big was the crowd in D.C. today?
posted at 8:31 pm on September 12, 2009 by Allahpundit
Anyone have any official/nonpartisan estimates? I’ve seen numbers ranging from 50,000 on the low end (from David Shuster, natch) up to “a healthy six figures” from Reason’s Matt Welch on up to the two million figure cited by the boss earlier this morning, which ABC insists it never reported. As of a few hours ago, D.C. police were refusing to make any estimates but ABC got some unspecified city officials on the record claiming there 60,000 to 75,000 people there. Any other numbers floating around? E-mail me if so. I think using protest size as a gauge of popular sentiment is stupid — witness the huge turnouts against the war in early 2003 when public support was in the neighborhood of 65 percent — but it’s a fun talking point, so let’s have fun.
Two videos of the crowd for you to peruse. One is a time-lapse from a traffic cam of people gathering this morning, the other is of MSNBC anchor Alex Witt marveling at the scale of the rally. Believe it or not, there were lefties speculating on Twitter today that the photo Michelle posted this morning was bogus because the flag in the foreground appears to be at half-mast; it must have been a photo of a lefty protest from years ago, the theory went, for surely the right couldn’t muster a throng of that size. Compare it to the videos, though, and you’ll see that the shot’s obviously from today. Alas, 9/12 Truth, we hardly knew ye!
Update: However big it was, it was bigger than expected. From the NYT: “Many came on their own and were not part of an organization or group. But the magnitude of the rally took the authorities by surprise, with throngs of people streaming from the White House to Capitol Hill for more than three hours.”
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: « Previous 1 … 5 6 7 8 Next »
2.5 square feet per person is a *very* tight ground. Mosh pit style.
jonknee on September 13, 2009 at 1:46 PM
does the crord get any attention from msm
bluegrass on September 13, 2009 at 1:46 PM
What crowd? In DC you say? All I know is about a million people tried to get in to see the Omperor over in minniapolis.
oakpack on September 13, 2009 at 1:48 PM
So the 8-10 thousand that showed up for Maobama in Minn. means nothing?
I agree with that. That small a number means nothing. Most were probably paid to be there.
Itchee Dryback on September 13, 2009 at 1:48 PM
Isn’t that the formula that was used to estimate the number of people that showed up for the inauguration of the Chocolate Jesus?
Itchee Dryback on September 13, 2009 at 1:52 PM
Anyway I can get rid of google in my toolbar and replace with bing?
becki51758 on September 13, 2009 at 1:54 PM
You wish illness on your fellow man?
Now we know your heart.
massrighty on September 13, 2009 at 1:55 PM
Thanks for sharing that, Sheetrock.
Del Dolemonte on September 13, 2009 at 1:55 PM
The point of your posts seems to be that few attended, and to no good purpose.
Numerous posters (some of whom were there) have said that the crowd was sizeable, the mood friendly, and that they felt that they had accomplished something.
So, why are you so invested in tearing this down?
Do you feel good by making others feel bad?
Or, is it somehow important that grassroots conservatism be seen as ineffective?
massrighty on September 13, 2009 at 1:59 PM
Is there a little drop-down box with the goggle logo? If so, you should have the option to manage your search engines.
RushBaby on September 13, 2009 at 2:01 PM
There were obviously a lot of people there and most said they had a great time. Good for them. But I’m a realist though and it wasn’t a record breaking crowd. Not even close.
jonknee on September 13, 2009 at 2:03 PM
Me too. I was there, and actually have photos of me and my sister standing in front of the FOX News van. Grif Jenkins was working the crowd. Anytime any of the speakers mentioned Beck or FOX News, the crowd went nuts.
My point is, this was truly an historic event, and I would expect that FOX (at least) would have covered it more accurately, and more thoroughly.
And oh, by the way, the troll (Bleeds Blue) who insists that the metro trains were empty is full of sh!t. I stood in line at 9 AM for 40 minutes to buy tickets to ride from Greembelt, where our bus dropped us off, to the National Archives, where we jumped into the crowd of marchers.
We were supposed to have met the crowd at Freedom Plaza but by 8:00 AM, we got a report that it was packed beyond capacity, with the crowd overflowing into the side streets.
It was an awesome thing to have been part of. The crowd was loud and energetic. And this is just the beginning…..
UltimateBob on September 13, 2009 at 2:04 PM
I got it! Thanks!!
becki51758 on September 13, 2009 at 2:05 PM
Hi petunia – I happen to feel the same way you do about yesterday’s crowds. So then you posted this:
ROFL – What on earth would give you that idea? We both happen to know there are *excellent* pictures taken yesterday — from traffic cams, event organizers, and a lot of attendees — as well as esttimates of turnouts in the million(s), published on Vodkapundit and elsewhere — and you & I both are on the lookout for additional pictures that can help corroborate the turnout.
For goodness’ sake, did you even read my comment? Carefully?
Anyhow, I *think* I’m on the side of the average HotAir member on this issue, just like I was a year ago when the “multiple” Obama YouTube pictures surfaced that were actually from the very same event. Same crossed wires then. That’s two apologies you owe me by now ;-) (but it’s okay if you don’t, I don’t really mind :-).
RD on September 13, 2009 at 2:11 PM
If you want to permanelty get rid of the Google toolbar, uninstall it through the “Add or Remove Programs” utility in your control panel.
To just disable and remove it from IE, right-click on the IE menu bar and un-check “Google Toolbar”
To get the Bing toolbar, there are two you can choose from:
http://download.live.com/toolbar
http://www.newmsntoolbar.com/
To make Bing your default search engine for your browser:
Add Bing to Firefox: http://bit.ly/9Ueib
Add Bing to IE: http://bit.ly/d6BGT
And lastly, to make sure this post is “on topic”, I think there were a whole lot of people there yesterday, don’t you?
Rod on September 13, 2009 at 2:17 PM
They should be forthcoming. There was a copter circling around the area all day – I have photos and video. It was high enough that I could not tell whether it was police, news, or what. But it was there.
UltimateBob on September 13, 2009 at 2:19 PM
This is my take on crowd size
AJStrata on September 13, 2009 at 2:21 PM
I’ll have to try and catch the first part of Monday’s radio show; I really hope it was something to do with the network because he was a huge letdown after all the hype that went into the fact he was even on on Saturday. Wierd.
Also- wondering what if anything is coming down on ACORN tomorrow- the filmmaker guy alluded to having more. I hope FOX doesn’t bow to pressure and supress it.
anniekc on September 13, 2009 at 2:21 PM
It doesn’t matter how many people went to the D.C. rally yesterday or the over 200 tea parties across the country that same day.
It MATTERS how many people get to the polls in 2010 and 2012!
I was at the D.C. March and I’ll be at the March to the polls.
TriciaNC on September 13, 2009 at 2:29 PM
Your response doesn’t actually answer my questions, though:
massrighty on September 13, 2009 at 2:38 PM
When NPR was looking for an estimate of the Obama inauguration in January, their expert estimated 6 people per square meter (10.5 square feet), plus or minus 20%. Useful for comparing estimates.
BTW, Pennsylvania Avenue is listed as 145 feet across.
Strick on September 13, 2009 at 2:42 PM
I found this at Instapundit, very funny.
http://jimtreacher.com/archives/002121.html
Cindy Munford on September 13, 2009 at 2:50 PM
Why not? We already have a butt czar.
ElectricPhase on September 13, 2009 at 3:01 PM
The news helicopter appeared to be the joint WRC (Channel 4), WTTG (5) and WUSA (9) owed one. I was at the Lincoln Memorial going back to my car when a news helicopter with mostly yellow livery and a stabilized nose camera flew up the Tidal Basin and went upstream along the Potomac. Couldn’t get the type, and my helo ID skills are weak if it’s not a Hormone, LAMPS II or Sea King.
NaCly dog on September 13, 2009 at 3:05 PM
Oops, should be LAMPS III. It sure wasn’t a MH-53E or CH-46.
NaCly dog on September 13, 2009 at 3:06 PM
/Takes off his tinfoil hat, so he can use his psychic powers…
Ex Navy? or Marine?
Romeo13 on September 13, 2009 at 3:09 PM
As I said, I’m a realist. If knowing the truth on matters of fact makes people feel bad, then so be it.
jonknee on September 13, 2009 at 3:10 PM
Oops, should be LAMPS III. It sure wasn’t a MH-53E or CH-46.
NaCly dog on September 13, 2009 at 3:06 PM
bernzright777 on September 13, 2009 at 3:11 PM
This is my take on crowd size
AJStrata on September 13, 2009 at 2:21 PM
So now you’re pimping your blog here at Hotair. You’ve trashed Michelle Malkin over and over in that blog. Your rants about the “pure” conservatives and blaming bloggers like Malkin for not being inclusive enough to the centrists like yourself have escalated since the election. You ban people who politely disagree with you with no mention that they’ve been banned. Now you choose Hotair to pimp yourself. How ironic… Your little echo chamber getting boring? Too many people get tired of your constant bashing of Conservatives? Need a little more traffic?
Whippet on September 13, 2009 at 3:11 PM
Another non-response.
We get it, now.
massrighty on September 13, 2009 at 3:15 PM
I saw the helicopter, too. Not one tv van or truck along the entire route. On the wall home, kept hearing “tens of thousands” on the radio. Such bullshit. CNN, MSNBC, NYT, they are complicit in the corruption.
joshlbetts on September 13, 2009 at 3:20 PM
There was both a Fox News truck with uplink raised and a CNN truck. They were next to the NGA East Wing extension along the Mall, on Madison Dr. before 3rd St. This was around 1150.
NaCly dog on September 13, 2009 at 3:28 PM
My point is the reporters had video and reporters on-scene. The editors and producers MUST be suppressing the data. Typical, from my experiences with the media.
NaCly dog on September 13, 2009 at 3:32 PM
Like you, I am a former Surface Warfare Officer. I’ve read your comments for years, and enjoyed your cogent analysis.
NaCly dog on September 13, 2009 at 3:36 PM
Should have said “way”, not “wall”. Also, we walked down the route. I didn’t only saw one unaffiliated newsman and cameraman, but then again, they’re were over 2 million people there. Still, contrast that with Cindy Sheehan and the 40 to one ratio of reporters, cameramen, etc.
I’ve seen more tv vans and reports at OSU football games then at the event yesterday.
joshlbetts on September 13, 2009 at 3:37 PM
Interesting contrast between Tea Party participants and Obama supporters:
http://pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/85085/
Obama supporters (scroll down):
http://dougpowers.com/2009/09/13/how-large-was-the-protest-crowd-big-enough-to-rattle-some-nerves/
BuckeyeSam on September 13, 2009 at 3:38 PM
“reporters” not “reports” sorry again
joshlbetts on September 13, 2009 at 3:42 PM
Hey, I’m not calling you out. It was a big event, and hard to see what was happening unless you were right next to the event. Agree with the last sentence, wholeheartedly.
I saw two different groups of two individuals, with a Media badge hanging from their belt, conducting interviews with couples they stopped in the middle of Pennsylvania Avenue. There was a CNN camera at Freedom Plaza, but most were assiduously ignoring it.
NaCly dog on September 13, 2009 at 3:45 PM
Hey, now…. I worked for a living… LOL… retired CPO…
But thanks…
Romeo13 on September 13, 2009 at 3:50 PM
I know, I was agreeing. Sorry if it came across as argumentative. Still really angry about simplesimon calling me and my family “cockroaches”.
joshlbetts on September 13, 2009 at 3:51 PM
There was also CNN footage from yesterday where they had a reporter in the crowd, and the Anchor was talking to her about somthing not even related to the Event…
She got shouted down by the crowd…
Wouldn’t be suprised if they packed up and left after that…
Best coverage by far was from C-Span…
Romeo13 on September 13, 2009 at 3:55 PM
During the rally yesterday, one of the speakers had everyone dial a number I thought, for the reason “to count how many people were there”.
Anyone know anything about that?
stenwin77 on September 13, 2009 at 4:16 PM
I gave up on TV years ago. Shrug. Didn’t own one from ’76-2005. My wife has two. She watches, but not news. Watching TV seems like a great way to be misinformed. I have other channels for news and info.
Ask anyone that went through an event covered by TV, or the MSM. Lots of differences between coverage and reality.
Hot Air with Ed and AP, and the informed commentators, make this a very high signal to noise place to be.
NaCly dog on September 13, 2009 at 4:20 PM
I spoke with a guy who was there. He said people were pissed because the reporter was using the van to block the view of the huge crowd and focused on a the peripheral group.
There were a lot of them. People all over the place. If you weren’t there, it’s impossible to describe how many people were there. Amazing.
joshlbetts on September 13, 2009 at 4:29 PM
That was a CNN reporter discussing, of all things, Joe Wilson and his outburst from Wednesday.
Is it me or is it ironic that the only thing they could talk about was a five day old now non-controversy? Nothing substantive about the 9/12 demonstration – even AT the demonstration.
JeffWeimer on September 13, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Any more photos or news from the HotAir posters from yesterday?
yoda on September 13, 2009 at 4:39 PM
+ 1 !! I will be marching to the polls as well. Maybe even some campaigning.
And you’re correct joshlbetts, I kept trying the whole time I was there to maneuver into a position to capture the crowd, I laugh now when I see the aerial photos! It was impossible!
4shoes on September 13, 2009 at 4:39 PM
I Just returned from DC and can tell you that the Rally at the Capital was HUGE. We got together at Freedom Plaza and had to start an hour earlier than planned because they could not fit the crowd and had to get us moving to accommodate the masses.
I was impressed with the number of families that attended. There were many young people pushing their children in strollers followed by the parents and grandparents. I met people from all ofer the USA and there was camaraderie that I was proud to be a part of.
We moved down Pennsylvania Ave and stopped at just before getting to the Dome still on Penn. At we sat on the curb and could not believe that the crowd just kept pouring in. Thankfully the weather was overcast because teh sun would have made it very difficult for the older folks. If there had been a problem Crowd Surfing would have been the best way to get someone out of there.I can’t give you and estimate of how many people were there but the density from the Grant Statue to the steps of the capital was very tight and Everyone was fired up. God Bless Sen. Jim DeMint.
I am so proud of the people that attended the DC Rally. It’s time for more concerned citizins to say:
Tear Down those (Racial, Class & Partisian) Walls Mr. Obama” It’s time to lead the Nation even if the President won’t.
SayNo2-O on September 13, 2009 at 4:42 PM
Why should DC taxpayers have to pay for your trash removal?
Grow Fins on September 13, 2009 at 5:11 PM
Just a little taste of AJStrata who was here linking his blog. This was one of his comments defending Little Green Footballs and attacking “true” conservatives…again….
# AJStrataon 13 Sep 2009 at 9:29 am
“It depends on the intensity. Johnson has been under fire for months from a lot of people.
Creating enemies like him just shows how screwed up the ‘true conservatives” really are.
I am NOT in – never was, never will be. And it is because of the far right I will never be in.
And we centrists plan to make sure that this time around, the fringes don’t sell us a bill of goods and run off a cliff with an assumed mandate.
If the far right thinks the GOP and 2010 is for them, they are in for a huge surprise.”
Whippet on September 13, 2009 at 5:13 PM
OT-
Imperial Kleagle Asshat and Reptile Du Jour Charles LGF Johnson is PRAVDA-ishly slanting the coverage of the D.C. Protest as a Kookville racist gathering of lowlifes and scum and would-be assassins.
Project much, Chuckie?
The British Dail Mail’s estimate is that there were “up to two million” attendees.
Luckily, the MSM protected the rest of the American public from an accurate understanding and assessment of this display of partiotic concern for the Constitutional values of our nation.
profitsbeard on September 13, 2009 at 5:15 PM
Stuck in Austin this weekend for work. Wish I could have been in DC.
I watched the coverage on C-Span and Fox and the crowd size estimates that Fox kept using lead me to believe that perhaps they should have tuned in to C-Span. I’d agree with the “tens of thousands” had they prefaced that with “Tens of…”
That being said, our resident trolls are intent on downplaying the attendance numbers as well as the significance of this PEACEFUL, CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED assembly.
Knock yourselves silly.
What you witnessed in Washington and towns across this nation on 9/12 was the tip of the iceberg.
The sun will soon be setting on your socialist/marxist agenda.
Soon.
Talon on September 13, 2009 at 5:20 PM
lol…that’s what poses as serious political discussion over there nowadays?…you guys really need a new GOP president to bash to get that Lefty mojo going again.
RepubChica on September 13, 2009 at 5:21 PM
The Constitutional Scholar in Chief will have a different take on this.
Tommy_G on September 13, 2009 at 5:23 PM
Hmmm. How about hotels, restaurants, concessions, souvenirs, assorted retail sales, museum traffic, etc. Capitalism, baby. Make it work for you.
ElectricPhase on September 13, 2009 at 5:25 PM
Obviously, you didnt see the mess left behind after the immaculation. Much worse.
becki51758 on September 13, 2009 at 5:25 PM
1. DK is not a reputable source. They wish death on our troups.
2. They have chosen to live in a place where folks gather; it’s not reasonable to expect that there won’t be some trash.
3. It’s not rational to think that nothing unpleasant will ever happen. (We know this, because we are subjected to you.)
massrighty on September 13, 2009 at 5:26 PM
We cleaned up after ourselves and so did the people around us. But, they can use my money taxed on the hotel rooms, restaurant (china town, japenese steak house, the best), and the metro.
joshlbetts on September 13, 2009 at 5:26 PM
Excellent point!
If it wasn’t so HUGE and impressive why are the trolls trying to knock it down?
DSchoen on September 13, 2009 at 5:28 PM
I am sure he already does.
Won’t he be surprised?
Talon on September 13, 2009 at 5:28 PM
+1000
CWforFreedom on September 13, 2009 at 5:39 PM
GrowFins…just taking your lead dimmest of all
CWforFreedom on September 13, 2009 at 5:42 PM
http://patriotroom.com/article/aerial-shots-of-912-v-inauguration-912-wins-
Media counting FAIL.
joshlbetts on September 13, 2009 at 5:44 PM
You raise a good point. I think all Americans should pay to have Obama removed from office, not just the DC taxpayers.
Geochelone on September 13, 2009 at 5:44 PM
GrowFins…seems I have found a pattern
Hmmm you must be a hypocrite
CWforFreedom on September 13, 2009 at 5:45 PM
If it had been half the number of people coming to DC to support Obama this March would have been highlighted and crowed about on all MSM sources as “the most historical day in history!”
Instead, it was a See No Marchers, Hear No Marchers, Speak Not About Any Marchers cover-up on all the usual channels.
The media is disappearing as it tries to make the American people disappear.
Poetic justice for all.
profitsbeard on September 13, 2009 at 5:46 PM
Did that adle minded fool seriously ask why “They” should pay for “our” trash clean up.
We are the ones who pay the taxes for the lazy left half of this country. We pay for their trash every single day in the form of Welfare so if we want OUR money to go toward OUR trash clean up then it is no business of the worthless left.
Elizabetty on September 13, 2009 at 5:52 PM
Actually, I think it’s more of a tool.
massrighty on September 13, 2009 at 5:55 PM
http://patriotroom.com/article/aerial-shots-of-912-v-inauguration-912-wins-
The picture of yesterday’s event wasn’t right. Not enough yellow, there was a sea of gadsten flags and it was overcast. Too much sun.
joshlbetts on September 13, 2009 at 6:16 PM
I was at the march yesterday and I say there were 600,000 marching.
jay12 on September 13, 2009 at 6:17 PM
crap. “isn’t” not “wasn’t”
joshlbetts on September 13, 2009 at 6:18 PM
We will know the real numbers in time. I was there and I want to point out a few things. I was with the NC group, 3rd in the parade so we were able to get within about 150′ of the stage. Most people were standing so I am sure that the numbers could be a lot higher than expected based on density. The parade started early so a lot of folks went directly to the mall area when they arrived so the estimates based on the total number and how long it took doesn’t reflect everyone.
What I think is really important to point out is that just about all these people got here on their nickel. I heard that there were somewhere around 450 buses. Several people I spoke to took the Metro and said it took between 1 -2 hours to get on and longer than expected to get into the city. They need to look at the ridership numbers to help figure out or verify some of the crowd size. No matter what it was a great event and no one can deny that we exist.
New Patriot on September 13, 2009 at 6:27 PM
Thanks for the Bing tip! I’ve been wondering the same thing myself!
Queen0fCups on September 13, 2009 at 6:36 PM
CNN was a hoot yesterday – There were discussions with headlines under them like “Red Hot Rhetoric” and “Outshouting the Opposition”
Queen0fCups on September 13, 2009 at 6:38 PM
God bless the people who showed up in D.C. yesterday.
Y-not on September 13, 2009 at 6:46 PM
That’s one weird rant. The topic was “How big was the crowd in D.C. today?”
diogenes on September 13, 2009 at 6:52 PM
Axelrod is out saying the protesters don’t represent the broader public. Yup either they are in complete denial, are stupid or they are desperate and trying to come back with a strong offense.
The broader public is infuriated as evidenced by the town hall events. If they continue down the path they are on, I predict things will go even further south for them.
There comes a time when you gotta wake up and smell the coffee. The people who showed up yesterdays were not you’re sixties hippie anti war protesters, even the NY Slimes “gets it”. Main stream USA showed up yesterday.
And oh by the way, OUR reading comprehension skills are pretty damned good. As are our BS detectors.
dogsoldier on September 13, 2009 at 7:10 PM
For me, a native Washingtonian who was there (early…heh), this “old” diagram is the most helpful:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-01-19-crowd_N.htm
If anyone has trustworthy information as to just how far back the protesters went along the Mall from the Capitol towards the Washington Monument, then we can talk.
I know about the crowds on the Capitol grounds, and along Pennsylvania Avenue back towards Freedom Plaza.
I still stand by my estimate of 1.5-to-2 million.
NO QUESTION.
Lockstein13 on September 13, 2009 at 7:19 PM
I just got back from D.C.
My wife and I drove from Indianapolis
This was an awe inspiring event and shows that founding principles are embedded in the hearts of the people who count.
Early in the day, shortly after we marched to the Capitol grounds it was announced that ABC had broadcast an estimate of 1.5 million people.
I believe that was understated, significantly.
Just consider the number of buses: 450
the number of motorcyclists: 500
plus those that flew in.
plus those that drove.
I helped one woman who had arrived at the hotel (a Hamption in, 25 miles out of D.C.): she drove from Michigan BY HERSELF (husband couldn’t make it), but she drove with 4 children and the oldest was 12.
If the Democrats, the Republicans don’t listen to us they ignore us at their peril.
Onager on September 13, 2009 at 7:26 PM
Warm up the bus alexjerk is becoming a DISTRACTION.
He can go out with the trash.
Axelrod Says ‘Tea Party’ Protesters Are ‘Wrong’
White House senior adviser David Axelrod says that the demonstrations in Washington, D.C., Saturday do not represent the views of the broader public when it comes to health care reform.
Col.John Wm. Reed on September 13, 2009 at 7:40 PM
Nice comparison here:
CLEAN Conservatives & FILTHY Liberals– A Photographic Essay
Rational Thought on September 13, 2009 at 7:47 PM
It is a standard leftist tactic to try to ignore what they don’t like. I’ve mentioned before on HA that I was at a pro gun rally at harrisburg about 15 years ago. There were 10,000 of us and about half of those people were legally armed.
On the way home, the radio had great coverage of the rally. However, it wasn’t OUR rally they covered “Dozens of protestors visited Senator Snotface’s office in support of the homeless”. Not ONE FLIPPIN WORD about the 10k of us. Same with the bird cage liners the next day.
For these events, we need to get some alternate media going.
bullseye on September 13, 2009 at 7:50 PM
Looks like I picked a bad day to go to the Navy football game…
Nice job, people!
Next time…
Khun Joe on September 13, 2009 at 8:11 PM
Found this video of a kerfuffle with some ACORN frauds selling Gadsden flags at the 9/12 DC Protest. After they were discovered, the cameraguy and patriots chased them out of the Mall!
atheling on September 13, 2009 at 8:20 PM
I just got back home from DC. I am no expert on crowds but standing on a wall of one of he statues at the foot of the lawn on capitol hill, the hill was covered and every inch of real estate in every direction as far as I could see.
Twice, I asked a DC policeman if they had an estimate, both between 12:30 and 1:30. Both replies were “around 1.5 million”. Both said they had never seen that many people and one added that even “old timers” said they haven’t seen anything approaching it since the sixties.
I spent the bulk of the time moving through the crowd… I would guess that fewer than 20% could begin to hear the speakers. Everywhere, people were talking and it felt like the largest family reunion in the world. A very common sentiment expressed was that this is just the beginning.
CC
CapedConservative on September 13, 2009 at 8:41 PM
Addition to above…one of the policeman said they prepared for 50 to 150 thousand, based on guidance from “above”.
CC
CapedConservative on September 13, 2009 at 8:47 PM
He should have asked Palin to show up…. would have tripled his numbers easily.
CC
CapedConservative on September 13, 2009 at 8:52 PM
Did any of the HotAir folks meet each other while in D.C.?
Cindy Munford on September 13, 2009 at 9:06 PM
just watch the video at moonbattery.com under the name sophia – we passed this cameraman marching – it is utterly awe inspiring & should quell anyone’s doubts about what a massive number marched.
Ris4victory on September 13, 2009 at 9:07 PM
Just returned from D.C. and it was awesome! The Metro was not empty and it was shut down three times because of the crowds. We made it just in time for the march and met people from Indiana, Ohio, Hawaii, Georgia, Michigan, California, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and West Virginia. There were people in wheelchairs, all ages,all races and I will never forget a little girl with cerebral palsey walking slowly with her parents. The best chant? “CAN YOU HEAR US NOW?” There were millions.
Axelrod, go to H E double toothpicks!
Coastal Paradise on September 13, 2009 at 9:11 PM
It’s funny. Last month they were eager to portray the crowd as a “mob” full of “teabaggers”. Now they can’t wait to edit the script: “No wait… we meant a teabag full of mobsters… just a teabag full, no more. We’re sure of it. Even though we weren’t there.”
RD on September 13, 2009 at 9:12 PM
I was there and the pictures of the people there do not give you the true picture.A lot of people could not get to the main area .Lots of people were on the side streets and also a huge number of people on the mall way past the Washington Monument.I think a conservative number would be 750 thou. to 1.5 million.
thmcbb on September 13, 2009 at 9:19 PM
Every metro park&ride was parked solid and had lines that went from the loading area back to the lot from Vienna station into the city.
The next DC march we need to let people know to use the southern central and eastern park and rides as well as the highway ones….
I lived in the beltway during the “million man march” this was bigger.
sven10077 on September 13, 2009 at 9:36 PM
Even our numbers take sides now. It’s come to this. ;)
Grow Fins on September 13, 2009 at 9:37 PM
So, can we call this the 1.5 million man march?
Coronagold on September 13, 2009 at 9:38 PM
Wow. And according to reports the crowd only grew after that. Would be great if someone got one of these cops on tape or video!
Awesome.
RD on September 13, 2009 at 9:44 PM
Comment pages: « Previous 1 … 5 6 7 8 Next »