1.8 Million People! ZERO Arrests!

[ProfessorGAC]

That certainly implies something. Geez, usually just crowding that many people into a small space will create SOMETHING! But, no.

A new mood may be the most positive thing to happen, thus far.
GAC

[wndycty]

1. I have to give the cops MUCH CREDIT on that. . .

. . .I had tickets for the silver section and for some reason the entrance was shut down when it should have been open, the crowd got frustrated and literally stormed passed the cops who were trying to keep everyone out. Even though I was part of that crowd the cops would have had every justification to slap the cuffs on people.

I think there was a major breakdown and the people in charge have some explaining to do as it relates to why we were not being let in, but it was a high security situation and I bet the used their discretion in not arresting anyone.

[gmudem]

18. You must not have been too far from me.

I was in the silver section too. I was part of the crowd behind the reflecting pool on the right side of it that ran up the side of the pool. I have to say it was amazingly fun to be sprinting alongside the pool, but we had to stop when the cops started yelling at people to stop. I think they figured it was inevitable that the areas by the pool would be filled up.

[kwassa]

21. The purple tickets never got in

Maybe they should have stormed the gates.

I was in silver, I got in, my wife was in the purple ticket area, a much better spot, and could not.

along with thousands of other ticket holders.

[ProfessorGAC]

24. A Big Duh On Me!

I'm so sorry. I didn't even notice the first reply on this thread than you! I'm ashamed.

How are you? I'm so glad you were there! Like i said in a post in November, you are the one who turned me on to Obama in 2002 or 3.

If anyone in know was there, it just had to be you!

Congrats on top of congrats!
GAC

[depakid]

2. Statistically speaking, that's astonishing

Especially for DC.

[malaise]

3. I was giggling with delight when I heard

Greta reading those figures.

INAUGURATION DAY BY THE NUMBERS

Crowd: 1.8 million (record)

Metrorail trips: 930,772 (as of 6 p.m., breaks one-day record)

Previous one-day Metrorail record: 866,681 (Jan. 19, 2009)

People seeking aid at National Mall medical stations: 957

Patients treated at area hospitals: about 200

Arrests: 0 (as of 6 p.m. Tuesday)

Sources: District of Columbia, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, Secret Service and USA TODAY research

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-01-20-secu...

[Marrah_G]

4. How is that even possible?

[ProfessorGAC]

12. Just Reporting What USA Today Reported

It's a sidebar to the lead story. It's also probably on the website, but i saw the sidebar on Washington Journal.

Malaise posted the link earlier than i posted this. I didn't see her post, or i wouldn't have repeated it here.

It is pretty amazing. I can see how you would ask your question. It's what i asked myself when i saw it this morning, too.
GAC

[Marrah_G]

22. I'm shocked...but in a really good way

[liberal N proud]

5. Not one?

I hope you are correct but just knowing people in general.

Some would celebrate too much and inadvertently piss someone else off. Or the celebratory mood might just cross the line with police.

If there were no arrest, it is truly an amazing day.

[malaise]

6. I posted an official link

No arrests up to 6.00pm

[KharmaTrain]

7. Our Own Velvet Revolution...

Good mornin' Prof...

Think of how peaceful this entire process went. Despite the high-wattage verbage, President Obama led a quiet revolution that involved millions of people...one at a time, district by district. Throughout this march, we saw larger and larger crowds that all shared the same hope and promise...showing their power by their presence and at the voting booth. It went from filling auditoriums to stadiums and then Denver, Chicago and yesterday in Washington. The shear numbers of people and the shared joy and unity is something hard to describe...a culmination of decades of breaking down racial, social and sexual barriers...a truly united country unlike every before. For so long it was hard to see this happening, but yesterday was an affirmation in the true good nature of the majority of the American people and their hopes for progress and rejuvenation.

Cheers...

[malaise]

8. Back to back records

Crowd: 1.8 million (record)

Metrorail trips: 930,772 (as of 6 p.m., breaks one-day record)

Previous one-day Metrorail record: 866,681 (Jan. 19, 2009)

A revolution indeed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDdzBE_PlGU

[KharmaTrain]

10. Numbers Still Don't Do It Justice...

Last Saturday, I drove around Grant Park where President Obama gave his victory speech. The park was dark, empty and quiet (as well as being cold), but I could still visualize all the crowds who thronged into the place last November...a moment that was shared all across the country and around the world when his victory was projected by all the networks. You never saw crowds like that with any politician.

When I looked at the crowds yesterday and the ones over by the reflecting pool on Sunday, I kept thinking about the March on Washington and Vietnam Moritoriums...and the difference in the two groups...one of protest, the other of hope.

[malaise]

11. Hubby made that point

This was the first time everyone was there to celebrate rather than to demand change.
I will never forget yesterday. I thought about my maternal grandfather who attended Howard U in 1905 and left me an original copy of Booker T Washington's Autobiography, mom, dad and my youngest sister - I wish they were around to share in the celebrations.

[ProfessorGAC]

14. Finally!

Velvet Revolution. A well chosen phrase.
GAC

[mmonk]

9. Kind of shoots down all the theories and fears and bullcrap that

the righties kept discussing.

[ProfessorGAC]

13. How Hard Is That?

LOL! They live on fear. It's really all they've got.
GAC

[Blaze Diem]

15. Simple: Give respect-Get respect. Obama understands that.

and of course the REAL REASON: Bush left DC,

[Ilsa]

16. Here's a link on ABC News.

http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/Inauguration/story?id=6683...

As Obama has been President Obama watches the inaugural parade from the White House reviewing stand and prepares to attend numerous inaugural balls, law enforcement officials confirm that the the crowds that turned out for the day's festivities remained in check.

"Zero. There have been no inaugural-related arrests reported by any of our law enforcement partners today," the Secret Service said, as of 5 p.m. ET.

With the crowds dissipating now that Obama has been sworn in, law enforcement officials are breathing a sigh of relief that the headline event of the day passed without major incident.

A government official gave an unofficial estimate that the crowd topped 1.8 million, with 1.4 million on the Malland up to 400,000 in nearby streets. SNIP

[zagging]

17. Were they clean and articulate, too?

[ProfessorGAC]

23. What Could You Possibly Be Talking About?

That might be in my top 10 of stupid DU posts.

Try to keep up, ok?
GAC

[zagging]

26. It just came off as Bidenesque...

...telling us all how well behaved they were, as if it were unexpected, and therefore remarkable.

I could have misunderstood.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

27. Stir the pot elsewhere.

You didn't misunderstand, you know exactly what you were trying to pull...

[ProfessorGAC]

29. Hypersensitive

It's a statistical anomaly. If you read more into it than that, it's on you, not me.
GAC

[uppityperson]

25. wtf?

[TZ]

19. Everybody was sooo HAPPY!

I got in a few sticky situations where there was a bit of pushing and shoving but it wasn't NEARLY as bad as it could have been and almost everyone took it in stride. Wish my camera hadn't died in the late morning or I would have posted some amazing pictures of crowds walking down overpasses on ramps/off ramps..tunnels...

[Brewman_Jax]

20. That is incredible!

[asdjrocky]

28. Does this mean that even the cops are going to be nicer now?