Sometimes its more fun not attending events as working press. STEVE BOYLE PHOTO attended the inauguration ceremonies with a silver ticket and camera in hand. Cue exclusive images located here and a Washington Post story here about my experiences. I was in the middle of this mayhem…”She said some ticket holders, demanding access to the silver-ticket section, became so rowdy that they knocked over a barricade. Once inside, one witness said, some people stampeded toward the section.”
More details and an update to come.
*UPDATE 1.31.09*
Finally found the time to sit down and type out my experience related to the inauguration.
I arrived in DC with a friend from Rittenhouse Magazine on Sunday afternoon. I was expecting Armageddon-type traffic getting into down, but we hit zero traffic, smooth ride. Expecting to get to town in time for dinner, we dropped off our bags and realized the concert was still going on. Lots of people, I’m terrible at estimating crowd size, were on the Mall listening to the celebrity speakers and world-renowned musicians. After a failed attempt to get within 300 yards of the stage, I ended up in a bar in time to watch the Eagles disappoint their city again.
Monday was uneventful consisting mainly of enjoying meals with old friends and preparing for Tuesday. I traveled to the ceremony on foot with 2 friends, any more and we probably would have gotten separated. We left the house at 7am to get in line with our silver tickets. Silver tickets entitled us to be on the Mall in a certain standing room section, just in front of where the general public would be allowed. At 8:15am the three of us brought up the end of the more than a mile long line snaking through the streets near the Mall. It was unclear as to how we would ever gain access, the sea of people seemed endless. Our line moved a bit, but as timed ticked away we collectively decided that rules no longer applied and devised a plan.
Conditions windy and 30 degrees, FYI.
Following a brief interruption to the line of police, limos and black SUV’s pulling maneuvers I thought would cause them to flip, we ran for it, cutting in front of thousands. Still nowhere close to our destination, we tried to follow the flow. I have a knack for navigating crowds, which likely comes from my background making quick getaways from sporting events to make flights. We eventually passed under a sign labeled ‘Silver Gate’ but the security clearance we expected was no where in sight. After a brief stop on a hill near fence, intimately meeting some shrubbery, climbing a road barrier and getting shoved off of a curb, the three of us were in the front of the crowd. This is where the pictures in the above link begin. Thousands were barricaded into an area that lead to nothing and the ceremony started in 15 minutes. Unsure of what to do, the crowd became hostel and demanding. Everyone with a ticket could see the wide open abyss of grass on the Mall that should be covered with their frozen feet. It was only a matter of time.
Six officers cannot contain a crowd with intentions. Some people went around some barrier to the right of me, attracting the attention of the authorities. At that time, I felt a surge coming from behind me, pinning me to the metal barrier. The only solution was to push and pull and trample the barriers. It was frightening for the few seconds the barriers held everyone, but even more scary when they gave way and anyone who fell would be crushed. I didn’t see any casualties as i sprinted past police, over 2 plastic fences to an open area of safety where i could look for my friends. We met up and weaseled our way to the corner of the Capitol Reflecting Pool next to a giant speaker but out of sight of any viewing screens.
Packed shoulder to shoulder for about an hour I witnessed history and felt proud to be part of this nation.
