[nina0113]

Once upon a time the Park Police would use aerial photos, count the numbers in a square, and multiply the squares for a total. They stopped because sides would use it for political purposes.

Actually they stopped because Louis Farrakhan threatened to sue them for not saying he did so have a Million Men.

http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1P2-860151.html

Upthread, there's a picture of the Million Man March, which the Park Service estimated at 400,000. There were far more people than that at today's rally.

I was there too, and I'll say at least half a mil, based on the July 4th and March for Lifes I've been to. I thought the 1.5 mil I heard was high, but after looking at comparative overhead shots of the MMM and today, I think it's close.

[rolling_stone]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/index/nman006.htm