Posted on 09/13/2009 3:44:23 PM PDT by GVnana
This event had been promoted as a taxpayer “tea party” but the crowd’s concerns were wide ranging, from outrage at ACORN and Obama’s socialist cadre known as Czars, to Obama’s untruthfulness. Protesters also displayed signs mocking Nancy Pelosi and others for smearing the grassroots movement as “astroturfers” and as an “angry mob”.
I think this gathering should be appreciated as the extremely important historical event that it is. This is the first great conservative anti-statist manifestation in American history. The conservative movement, which developed in the post-WWII, Cold War environment has now fully matured into the most significant political movement of the 21st century. I believe that this day could be referred to in the not too distant future as the day that changed America. This was the day the great silent conservative majority finally found its voice.
Many of the attendees were quite meek and timid and were unsure of exactly what to expect, this being the first time in their lives they’d been involved in a protest movement. Their fears evaporated early in the day and I saw people reveling in the camaraderie , the joy and sheer civility that was exhibited at the entire event. Chants of “Freedom, freedom, freedom”, “No more czars! No more czars!” carried through the air without the slightest hint of rancor or incivility which is the norm at the leftist rallies I have photographed over the years.
The two photos above show a tiny fraction of the two million ABC estimates attended. I saw signs and heard lots of comments comparing this event to Woodstock. At the time this photo was taken, around 1:00 p.m., Pennsylvania Avenue was still jammed completely, and the mall was packed from the Capitol Building past the Washington Monument. See aerial photos here. http://moderateinthemiddle.wordpress.com/2009/09/12/aerial-views-added-d-c-police-close-roads-to-buses-people-on-footestimate-1-2-millionl-abc-cant-count912-party-on-patriots/
Protesters came from every state in the union. This man came from San Antonio, TX. He said that he was really sorry he hadn’t brought his family. He stated that being a black conservative he was afraid to expose his children to what he expected would be a lot of liberal abuse. He was thrilled with the tenor of the event and the fact that no liberals were present to harass him. He spoke about how incredibly intolerant the left is to black individuals who don’t bow to the party line.
These Ohioans took a day off their rodeo bullriding schedule. They said they’ll be back at it tomorrow.
-snip-
In the very center of the photo, above the Silence is Consent – Can You Hear Us Now sign, you can see Pennsylvania Ave., which at this time is totally blocked with protesters who cannot move forward to the Capitol area. Sorry, full up.
There were notable differences though, in the behavior of these attendees. Although the legend of Woodstock is that there was a friendly atmosphere of camaraderie, the truth is that most people were there for the drugs, sex and rock and roll. Today in D.C. there was a true kinship amongst these people based on shared values and intellectual understanding of what America is and how its future is imperiled by big radical government.
Ping
I’m not sure yet how many came. It was a LOT! :)
This link you provide, has probably the best aerial shot I’ve seen yet. Wow, the number would only vary somewhat based on density - but clearly, it was in the 500K to 1M mark, by looking at the mall graphic.
Take a look at this layout showing crowd capacity in the area
http://moderateinthemiddle.wordpress.com/2009/09/12/aerial-views-added-d-c-police-close-roads-to-buses-people-on-footestimate-1-2-millionl-abc-cant-count912-party-on-patriots/
so you can see that there definitely were more people than at the inauguration.
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http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-01-19-crowd_N.htm
That image doesn’t show the 2009 inauguration crowd, but gives various markers for crowds on the Capitol Mall.
I think if anything it’s an indication of a larger 9/12 crowd but doesn’t compare, necessarily with the Jan. inauguration crowd.
Was there another gathering down by the reflecting pool? Because, the march I was at only extended from the Capitol building a little way into the mall area.
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I think post 25 was showing different places - so no comparison there possible.
I did hear there were two different rallies yesterday - about 7 blocks apart. I think there was the main rally - that we’ve seen pictures for all over the place and was between 500K and 1M, imo, and then another rally, for which I haven’t seen numbers.
GREAT JOB TEA PARTIERS!!!
BUMP!
Amen.
I am NOT the least bit surprised of the arrogance of the left, TARP and their so called shovel ready stimulus taking demonstrates they know how many of US there are.
I do wonder how much it cost US to bus BamaKennedy’s supporters for his little show in MN.
Thanks
Bump
I have a practical question, posed in utter amazement of what happened on Saturday:
Where did people go to eat, drink, and answer nature?
What was that all like?
bttt
For those disputing the numbers, I can affirm from reports that they started marching down to the capitol at 9 AM because there were too many of them and the streets and freeways were jammed up. Many never made it because of that.
The march took the better part of 4 hours...
So the 1.5 M number is not wrong.
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