Family and friends,
For those interested, I thought I'd write a bit about my experience yesterday at the inauguration.
My friend from high school Shad (he works for the NSA, shhhhh) lives just across the river from the Lincoln Memorial (here's the route I walked from his place to my spot on the mall). I'm drinking coffee from his National Security Agency mug right now, which I'm hoping isn't bugged.
Jim Ragsdale, the writer I'm working with, was given an incredible ticket less than 50 feet from Obama. Here's a link to the great column he wrote about his experience.
I had a standing area ticket that was fairly close to the stage, but I actually didn't try to use it and stayed further back near the Washington Monument. There was more space to work and move around and I didn't want to be locked in to a location.
It was cold, below 30 all day, and many people, including small children, were not dressed for it. It was sad actually. Waiting five hours in the cold can be brutal and it was for many, including Jim who sat shaking for hours in his awesome seat.
Arriving was wonderful, and everyone was totally happy and smiley and in great moods. Random chants of 'Obama' broke loose, random hugs, high fives, and elated folks. Throughout the day I must have seen 50,000 African American women wearing fur coats and huge hats. it was really quite funny. As they played Stevie Wonder's performance from Monday's night's concert on the jumbotrons, people began dancing everywhere, including one of those big line dances things in unison (it made for great video, see below).
After I made it to the mall around 8 or 9, I later noticed others being blocked in side streets and prevented from getting on the mall. Thousands of people stuffed up against gates just standing there, not quite being able to hear or see the huge screens. Many of whom traveled thousands of miles and even had official tickets. I felt real bad for them. Later during a reception in the congressional office building Minnesotan's were giving congressman Keith Ellison and earful about the horrible planning. Even worse was trying to get off the mall. There was no exit strategy--I can't count the number of times I was being squished from all sides slowly shuffling forward like a sardine. Metro stops were closed, buses were backed up idling everywhere, people walking on interstate exits and in the middle of streets. One metro stop that was open I saw had thousands of people waiting (above ground) to get on. And I'm sure most of the trains that came through were already full.
Most of the chaos had to be sort of expected I suppose with that many people trying to get one place at one time.
Around 10am or so the official program started. The jumbo screens really were great, with a clear picture and great sound (although it wasn't synced well). Aretha Franklin (with her huge crazy hat) made lots cry (including me) with her singing My Country Tis Of Thee.
As they introduced different politicians, nearly everytime the word Republican was mentioned, "BOOOOO". When Bill Clinton showed up the crowd cheered lots. If I had to guess on a ratio, I'd think 60+ percent of the crowd was African American. That in itself was amazing to see, so many folks, especially older folks who grew up under segregation and more discrimination, feeling like they had to see it for themselves, almost as if they wanted to make sure it was really going to happen.
When they first showed Bush the crowed erupted with boos. It was sad and wonderful in it's own way. Michelle Obama showed up and everyone screamed, then Barack. It went crazy. I have a shot in my little video (linked below) of a young woman just screaming with delight as he showed up. Triumphant hugs and tears. I'm a sucker for crowds and stuff, and randomly teared up just being amongs so many people all feeling something so wonderful and so strongly.
Obama spoke (which was a little anticlimactic in my view), and most folks immediately packed up and headed out, but were then quickly stuck in massive lines and human congestion. I eventaully just laid down under a tree and gave my weary legs a rest. I had hoped to connect with a school group from Minnesota, but eventually gave up after realizing it just wasn't possible to get to where they were.
I produced a short video from moments on the mall:
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1870915446/bctid8638449001
And here's the video I did a day earlier of a local civil rights leader Matt Little from Minnesota who returned to the spot he saw MLK's speech on the mall:
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1870915446/bctid8556273001
Today were meeting Al Franken for a little interview, then maybe some sight seeing before out flight back early tomorrow.
Take care,
ben
For those interested, I thought I'd write a bit about my experience yesterday at the inauguration.
My friend from high school Shad (he works for the NSA, shhhhh) lives just across the river from the Lincoln Memorial (here's the route I walked from his place to my spot on the mall). I'm drinking coffee from his National Security Agency mug right now, which I'm hoping isn't bugged.
Jim Ragsdale, the writer I'm working with, was given an incredible ticket less than 50 feet from Obama. Here's a link to the great column he wrote about his experience.
I had a standing area ticket that was fairly close to the stage, but I actually didn't try to use it and stayed further back near the Washington Monument. There was more space to work and move around and I didn't want to be locked in to a location.
It was cold, below 30 all day, and many people, including small children, were not dressed for it. It was sad actually. Waiting five hours in the cold can be brutal and it was for many, including Jim who sat shaking for hours in his awesome seat.
Arriving was wonderful, and everyone was totally happy and smiley and in great moods. Random chants of 'Obama' broke loose, random hugs, high fives, and elated folks. Throughout the day I must have seen 50,000 African American women wearing fur coats and huge hats. it was really quite funny. As they played Stevie Wonder's performance from Monday's night's concert on the jumbotrons, people began dancing everywhere, including one of those big line dances things in unison (it made for great video, see below).
After I made it to the mall around 8 or 9, I later noticed others being blocked in side streets and prevented from getting on the mall. Thousands of people stuffed up against gates just standing there, not quite being able to hear or see the huge screens. Many of whom traveled thousands of miles and even had official tickets. I felt real bad for them. Later during a reception in the congressional office building Minnesotan's were giving congressman Keith Ellison and earful about the horrible planning. Even worse was trying to get off the mall. There was no exit strategy--I can't count the number of times I was being squished from all sides slowly shuffling forward like a sardine. Metro stops were closed, buses were backed up idling everywhere, people walking on interstate exits and in the middle of streets. One metro stop that was open I saw had thousands of people waiting (above ground) to get on. And I'm sure most of the trains that came through were already full.
Most of the chaos had to be sort of expected I suppose with that many people trying to get one place at one time.
Around 10am or so the official program started. The jumbo screens really were great, with a clear picture and great sound (although it wasn't synced well). Aretha Franklin (with her huge crazy hat) made lots cry (including me) with her singing My Country Tis Of Thee.
As they introduced different politicians, nearly everytime the word Republican was mentioned, "BOOOOO". When Bill Clinton showed up the crowd cheered lots. If I had to guess on a ratio, I'd think 60+ percent of the crowd was African American. That in itself was amazing to see, so many folks, especially older folks who grew up under segregation and more discrimination, feeling like they had to see it for themselves, almost as if they wanted to make sure it was really going to happen.
When they first showed Bush the crowed erupted with boos. It was sad and wonderful in it's own way. Michelle Obama showed up and everyone screamed, then Barack. It went crazy. I have a shot in my little video (linked below) of a young woman just screaming with delight as he showed up. Triumphant hugs and tears. I'm a sucker for crowds and stuff, and randomly teared up just being amongs so many people all feeling something so wonderful and so strongly.
Obama spoke (which was a little anticlimactic in my view), and most folks immediately packed up and headed out, but were then quickly stuck in massive lines and human congestion. I eventaully just laid down under a tree and gave my weary legs a rest. I had hoped to connect with a school group from Minnesota, but eventually gave up after realizing it just wasn't possible to get to where they were.
I produced a short video from moments on the mall:
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1870915446/bctid8638449001
And here's the video I did a day earlier of a local civil rights leader Matt Little from Minnesota who returned to the spot he saw MLK's speech on the mall:
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1870915446/bctid8556273001
Today were meeting Al Franken for a little interview, then maybe some sight seeing before out flight back early tomorrow.
Take care,
ben
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