Political Pilgrims: An American Hajj

This place was amazing today. So many people packed into one little town, and everyone was happy, nice and polite!

Now, I’ve been in big celebratory crowds before, and most crowds eventually push, shove and turn over cars – you know, the standard. This crowd was completely different, but, that is not to say everyone was completely behaved. People were climbing on trees and on top of porta-potties to get a better view, burst through the barricade behind the silver ticketed area – and we also seized that opportunity to move into the silver area. See, we did have silver area tickets and we were running late due to the hotel management raking me over the coals and jacking up the price of the room tonight after I was quoted a different rate.. ugh! Anyways, the metro ride, although packed, was fun. People were singing and chatting and I got an interview, but I couldn’t maneuver my big camera up to get a view of the folks singing, so I’ll have to rely on youtube to share it with you:

Anyways, so we got there late, about 10:30am (after the big fight with the Econolodge manager who decided to screw us – btw, DO NOT stay at the Econolodge Metro in E Falls Church), and our friends who also had silver tickets and stood in line for security arrived at 7:30am (line opens at 9am). They were turned away, as we were too. So, we hung out near the entrance, walked around, and around, and then we found a few barriers on the ground that were trampled on, and at the time, I didn’t think anything of it – until I realized, wow, we’re pretty close! Sure enough we had made it to the same ticketed standing area.

my vantage point during the inauguration... and this was the silver ticketed area!

The energy was alive! There were 2-3 man documentary teams all over. I forgot the wide angle lens unfortunately, but I think I got a few good interviews. Hope to have more up in a bit!

January 20th, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized |  Email This Post | Comments (4)

Ok – so how do you fit 3 million people in one city and then move them out in about 48 hrs? Good question…

They closed the beltway and all roads in and out of DC at 3am Tues morning. So, we couldn’t leave town and get back in in time for the inauguration. And don’t even think about parking in the city, so we had to have a room. Maybe we could have found someone in town to park at, but we were too behind to pack up and coordinate anything.

We were very lucky to find a room. Monday night/Tues morn at 2:30am, we checked in at a rate of 177 for that night and 199 for Tues night… so we thought. Then the next morning, the manager told us we were not confirmed for Tues night and it would be 400 for that night. I was beyond livid. We were already running behind, so I didn’t have time to pack it all up and try to find a parking place (Metro lots were filled by this time).

There were things that could have been done better crowd management wise – and metro wise – but all in all, a very GOOD event… and that statement does not do it justice. Apparently only one person had a metro accident (not fatal thankfully!) but all in all, even as packed as it was on the train and in town, everyone was amazingly happy and polite. We were packed like sardines in the metro, but it didn’t stop folks in our car from bursting out into song! They started with “This Land is Your Land” and continued with the National Anthem and “Lean on Me” for laughs! Too awesome Wish though I had been in a better mood after being set off by the Econolodge Metro manager. In retrospect, we should have just got a room election night for the 19th and 20th. That would have helped the schedule tremendously.

Once we got there, everything was partitioned off. Streets were packed with people and police and national guards were guiding folks in one direction. I understand the need to organize, but by the time we reached the silver ticketed area line, they stopped letting people in through security. In fact, Mike, who also had silver tix, got in line at 7:30 and they wouldn’t even let him in. People in the purple area weren’t let in as well and started chanting “Let us in!”

Many people with tickets couldn’t get in – no matter how early they arrived. Strangely enough, the barriers were broken into the silver area, and we walked right in with the throngs of other people, and were able to stand where we were supposed to anyways. We couldn’t see a jumbotron or get any kind of a perspective except crowds crowds and more crowds. People scaled porta-potties and trees to get a better view. I lost Duane during the event, and since cell service was down, I couldn’t get a hold of him. Before coming, during the preparations for the trip, I had thought of getting walky-talkies, but didn’t follow through since we already had a lot of gear.

Yes, tactically and logistically there were things maybe we could have done better, but all things considered, we were very grateful to be a part of the moment in history. Now we’re off to find a place to eat during the parade. Apparently, you have to buy tickets in order to get a decent view, and there were only 5000 of those tickets distributed. Dad told us to try a museum and the Native American one seems welcoming so we’ll try there!

People resting on the floor at the Native American Museum

January 20th, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized |  Email This Post | Comments (2)

Dumping footage to the laptop, one last blog and we’re out the door!

Line opens at 9am for ticketed area – we’ll be behind the reflecting pool standing. And no, apparently there are no bathrooms for the ticketed area. Here I was all excited thinking we’ll be able to go inside to use the bathroom…

Better get going – will try to blog during the event and upload pics from my phone – that is if I can get service!

January 20th, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized |  Email This Post | Comments (6)

So they close the roads into DC at 3am Monday night/Tues morn. Metro ran until 2am. We got to the car on the last train hoping to leave the car there for a few hours overnight and grab the stuff, go back to Mike’s in the city. Instead, we’re told that they will tow the car and no parking avail in town that we’d have to come back at 3:30am when the lot is open again. We can’t go back to the cabin out of town because we won’t be able to get back in.

WHAT???

So, we got really lucky – at the first hotel we saw next to the metro stop in East Falls Church, we got the last room they had. I went ahead and got it for 2 nights just to keep stuff there all day today.

Most expensive storage ever… Oh well, at least we’re safe and warm.

January 20th, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized |  Email This Post | Comments (2)

We’re beat. Moblogging from my phone in Chinatown now finally eating dinner – yes, at midnight.

Chinatown in DC

All dressed up and no where to go but to bed. Mike was so awesome to let us stay there last night and tonight. they are saying that tomorrow no one will be able to get in or out of the city passed the beltway. last night we met up with Louis and Kristen and other sw Ohio Obama campaigners. it was great to see them again and I hope the audio came thru on the interviews… the energy was great and everyone was appreciative and loving of everyone else there gotta go before I pass out at the table from exhaution!

January 19th, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized |  Email This Post | Comments (4)

at Brickskellar with SW Ohio FO's

Sunday the plan was to hang out with Louis, Kristen and the other SW Ohio Obama campaign Field Organizers at Brickskellar near Dupont Circle. It was so great to see everyone again! Got a few great interviews, but I didn’t have an external mic – other than the wireless lapel mics so I am *hoping* the footage is usable… ugh. Anyways, this trip was to be an adventure, one that we would just go with the flow and fly by the seat of our pants, and other cliches that represent the mood of the moment. We tried to have a schedule planned in our heads, esp since I had a bunch of gear to lug around, but that didn’t really work too well.

Gotcha Louis!

Church of the Pilgrims - All are welcome

After Brickskellar, we walked outside and I saw something I had to take as a sign. We were across from the “Church of the Pilgrims”. There was a big rainbow flag hanging from it with the words “All are welcome”. I had to get a picture of the sermon message…

Where all are pilgrims

After that, met up with Mike and Diego at a house party near Adam’s Morgan in Mt Pleasant. Lana was an awesome host who welcomed the crazy Ohioans with open arms and Miller Lites. From there we jumped over to a couple bars that we *thought* would be open late… Apparently the city gave permits to only 200+ bars across the city to allow them to stay open until 4am. We tried a couple that were not, and found one that was called Tonic.

Duane and Mike at Tonic

When the bars closed we went back to Mike’s place, stayed up til 7 chatting and crashed for a few hrs… then “oh no it’s monday!” We had to jump onto the metro, get back to the cabin to grab the gear, wash up and get to L’Enfont Plaza in time for a 2pm interview with a member of the Homeland Security team. Once we got on the highway, it was snowing and jammed – getting OUT of town! There was no way we would make it back in time. I had to cancel the interview.

Luckily, the metro wasn't too crowded... at that time

Hopefully, I’ll still have enough footage to make this a decent “short”…

January 19th, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized |  Email This Post | Comments (2)

blogging about arrival

 
We have made it, finally.  After being up nearly 24 hours trying to take care of all the loose ends that I had between work and getting ready to go, I am relieved to have made it to the Shenandoah Mountains in Virginia.  This is where we’ll be at for tonight.   I was so tired before Kat took over at the wheel that I was mildly hallucinating.  We are in a cabin very far off in the woods.  Very far.  Lots of trees and darkness too.  I thought we might drive into the set of a horror flick.  That meant I, the only Black guy for miles, was going to die first of course.  The cabin is actually really nice, lots of wood and space. I even got used to the hydrogen sulfide smell coming through the well water.   We’re going into DC tomorrow.  It will be my first time in the city.  Heck of a way lose my virginity.  But now I’m going to let sleep take me, mercifully.

January 18th, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized |  Email This Post | Comments (1)

We are going to go participate in a moment of history…or are we?  I often tell my students that history is about real people doing real things.  In fact, I make them commit that quote to memory.  History is about real people doing real things.  So what here is, in fact, historic?  Is it that Obama is getting Inaugurated?  Is it that millions of people are voyaging to go see it?  Is it that we are a part of all of this?  I am interested in this trip because I want to see it with my own eyes.  Yet, I also feel that if we stop our understanding of history simply at the moment in which Obama is installed as President, then it will not be history at all.  Remember my notion of history and see that we are the real people in it.  Therefore, I feel that history will be seen on Tuesday in the person of Barack Obama only if all of US go MAKE history starting on Wednesday.  Now, damn it, let get going!

January 17th, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized |  Email This Post | Comments (5)

Yeah go figure – story of my life.  But at least this time I won’t be unprepared.  Plenty of maps, metro cards we ordered online, equipment, batteries charged and chargers, and even a spare power source. Bringing one big bag to put all the gear in and stow it at Union Station storage area. I was up all night til 6am packing and took about a 3 hr nap. Duane was up finishing grades and packing as well. It was exam week last week so this has been a time crunch for him.

I’ll go into more description as to our supplies but you’d think that we had to survive in the wilderness for a month… but not as much food.

My brother called yesterday. He lives in Charlottesville, VA. He told me to buy hand warmers here because they are out in the entire state of Virginia! My cousin, who lives at our cabin told me they were announcing warnings on the radio for interstate 81 and 66. Gotta get to Duane’s to pack his car and jet out of Hamilton!, Ohio. We have a long drive ahead of us – and presumably, plenty of traffic.

January 17th, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized |  Email This Post | Comments (1)