The creativity of the signs, costumes and slogans was wonderful, and we had a lot of laughs.
My estimate on the crowd? Approaching 200,000. On our metro train alone there were over 1000 marchers, so the reports that put it at 60,000 are extremely unlikely. Say there were 8 trains coming into DC every 12 minutes, that would make 80,000 people arriving over two hours on the metro alone.
Add to that the number who drove (parking looked awful) and the number who came on busses (everywhere) and the number was very impressive indeed.
The crowd filled Pennsylvania avenue all the way from the White House to the Capitol Building. It filled the front lawn of the Capitol all the way back to 4th Street.
The best moment (for us) was this: We were on our way over to Union Station and came across a CBS reporter setting up to do a report in the middle of the street. Protesters dutifully lined up behind him to show their signs. Then he and his camera man swung around so we weren't in the shot. So we followed. He swung around again. So we followed! We ended up shouting, "CBS SUCKS, CBS SUCKS, CBS SUCKS," and he and his cameraman gave up in disgust, got in their SUV and left.
That guy was not going to turn in a report with protesters in the background no matter what. Maybe it was against his orders? Also, his bottled tan was atrocious. He looked like John Boehner.
If the jerks on Capitol Hill and in the media didn't hear us this time, there's no chance of resolving the situation. I can't imagine a more articulate display of the taxpayer's rage.
Add to that the number who drove (parking looked awful) and the number who came on busses (everywhere) and the number was very impressive indeed.
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If you listen to the speaker on the CSPAN broadcast, there were 450 bus loads - at 50 per bus that’s 22,500 right there.
So adding up your trains estimate in just two hours, with the busses, we’re at least at 100,000. I imagine people arrived anywhere from 8am to 1pm.
I think it sounds like anywhere from 200,000 to 500,000 is extremely reasonable. But, maybe more?? :)