9-12 DC Tea Party - A View From the Street

Hi folks,

I want down to the Tea Party march here in DC to try to capture some the atmosphere of today's event. I took some pictures and a couple of short videos to try to give ATS members a sense of ambience of what it felt like to be there.

For the sake of objectivity I will try to keep my own opinion to a bare minimum and just post short descriptions of what I was witnessing though the camera.

Not that there is anything nefarious to report mind you ... the whole event as I saw it was very civil and rather fun for the participants. Just lots of regular folk, with lots of signs and microphones exercising their rights in a jovial and festive atmosphere.

Of course the message is very serious to the participants and many Americans. This sense of purpose was evident and well communicated. There were folk from pretty much everywhere if license plates are anything to go by, including as far away as Alaska.

I will not attempt to guesstimate the number of people that were there, but I will say as a DC resident having attended many marches, that so far as I could perceive, it was a very successful demonstration numbers wise. Freedom Plaza where it began was packed, so was was the length of Pennsylvania Avenue, and the front of The Capitol.

For the record, I only stayed for the march and not for the ensuing speeches that are currently taking place in front of The Capitol.

There was much local press coverage in the DC area and the usual msm suspects such as CNN and FOX News. I did not see a MSNBC trailer but that doesn't mean they weren't there.

I felt a little bad for the CNN reporter as he was being heckled rather heavily and humorously by some very verbally creative folk. He seemed a little peeved but not surprised.

As is usual for these events police presence was considerable, but most of them being used to this sort of thing were, so far as I could tell very much in the background, chatting with folks, and helping out with directions and information.

As I write this I have heard of no local reports of any incidents, going by the civil mood of the crowd I would be surprised if anything serious were to develop.

Well, that's it as far as what I saw and felt from the ground. I hope you enjoy the pictures and videos.





Pictures to follow below ...

As soon as I post the (many) pictures I am happy to answer any questions you guys might have about the event from an ATS member on the ground.

All of these pics and a few more are stored in my media center profile under the 912 Tea Party Album.











































[edit on 12 Sep 2009 by schrodingers dog]

Cheers for going down there! I have to say though,I was laughing my pretty little bum off at the socialism is not American banner

Great Job Sdog. Is it just me or was that a bunch of white people.
What was your take on the participation of minorities?

Nice photos!

I love seeing all those Gadsden flags!

Thanks guys ...

The rest of the pics and the above in a little higher quality can be found on my Media ATS profile page.

Image Gallery

[edit on 12 Sep 2009 by schrodingers dog]


[mod edit: fixed link to gallery]

[edit on 12-9-2009 by 12m8keall2c]

schrodingers dog...Thank-you so very much for the photos and videos of the 9/12 in D.C! I wanted to go so bad but could not. Your photos made me feel as if I were there...
Thank-you again

reply to post by schrodingers dog


DUDE

IS that an Eagle I see in one Photo?


These people are so patriotical Bald Eagles hover over them and watch the flanks.


edited to resolve stupid Vacuum reference

[edit on 12-9-2009 by mental modulator]

reply to post by mental modulator


Yes it's an eagle ... in kite form.

Originally posted by whaaa
Great Job Sdog. Is it just me or was that a bunch of white people.
What was your take on the participation of minorities?

Mmm ok ...

I'm just going to tell you what I saw and I have no way of knowing people's heritage.

Keeping that in mind it would be accurate to state that the crowd was predominantly caucasian.

It should also be noted that the event was very family oriented with folk of all ages.

Great photos and videos. Thanks so much for posting these - it is always nice to see non-media photos of these events!

This gives me goose bumps! I am proud of my fellow citizens! I have been hearing rumors there are up to 3 million people marching in D.C.

I hope the crooks in Washington are listening because it will be their butts on the line.

[edit on 12-9-2009 by Anonymous Avatar]

Hey great pics You live in DC? I am wondering about the protests occurring yesterday by People protesting the Govt. role in the 9/11 attacks, or lack of resolving the many issues, and questions not being answered? Can You give us any details regarding protests yesterday??

I think the involvement is great in regards to the protests today, but at the same time the 9/12 project created by Glenn Beck I feel is friendly opposition designed to hijack the 9/11 truth movement, and the original Tea Parties started by Ron Paul.

Imho should People not be careful this already subverted movement may just end up like the Bolshevik take over of Russia

S&F



[edit on 12-9-2009 by sanchoearlyjones]

reply to post by schrodingers dog


Thank you for taking the time, I mean that totally. I wanted to go to a local one or do something to participate and take some photo's, but i am currently not able, so it pleases me to see some great images.

Curiosity, I take it you put the bald eagle in the last photo? Good touch - oops I missed that one reply!

How many people would you astimate showed? Sure looked like a lot on TV.

[edit on 12-9-2009 by Libertygal]

Originally posted by Libertygal
reply to post by schrodingers dog

 

How many people would you astimate showed? Sure looked like a lot on TV.

Honestly it's sooo hard to tell when you're at street level ...

It was tens of thousands for sure but after a while all you see is a sea of people so it could just as easily been a million.

I'll leave the numbers for others to report and debate but suffice it to say that the turnout was great. I've been to a couple of these when they've become duds and that's when it really gets noticeable. I've also been to a couple that you couldn't move and that wasn't the case today.

It's hard for me to gage success or failure numbers wise as I don't have any set expectations either way ... but should anyone try to make the point that the numbers were low, they would be lying. It was by my account, a very successful march.

reply to post by schrodingers dog


Oh I wasn't guaging success or failure on numbers, just curois. Numbers, to me, just more more eye opening. I like seeing the awakening happening.

It did seem nice, though. Everyone seemed calm and cheerful and there fo all the right reasons. I was relieved to not see any visible anti-protestors making any trouble. Thank you again, for taking the time!

From the photo's it would appear most of the people there were Caucasians, however it really is hard to tell now days. My maternal Grandfather was born in Spain, my Grandmother born in Mexico which makes me half Latin American and I'm about as blonde as they come. I too am curious to know if it was all Caucasians, as my Hispanic American brothers and sisters are feeling the need for a change in America too.

But... There is a difference in the events as Sancho pointed out. My brethren (many in the military who spilled blood for this country's corporations) would be more apt to be found at an original Ron Paul type freedom fighter (constitutionalist) tea party, rather than a 912 anti Obama FOX Glen Beck type event.

SD... Did you cover the 911 event as well? It would be awesome to be able to compare the people and signs and the all around differences.

Thanks

Thousands pack D.C. to protest spending, taxes
www.msnbc.msn.com...

There is also a clip on MSNBC.com. Democrats, Republicans, and Independents are all in attendance. It looks like Obama's speech last week failed. Someone estimated the crowd to be tens-of thousands.

Clip
www.msnbc.msn.com...

[edit on 12-9-2009 by Pathos]

Originally posted by Sundancer

SD... Did you cover the 911 event as well? It would be awesome to be able to compare the people and signs and the all around differences.

Unfortunately I did not ...

Again, I'm trying to approach this thread more as an objective observer rather than to attempt to extrapolate political commentary from my experience.

But it would be fair to say, and the pictures somewhat reflect this fact, that the ideas and principles championed today were more broad than the original Ron Paul related tea parties. It seemed a pretty fair representation of general Republican Party and conservative ideals ... anything from healthcare, gun control, immigration, socialism, pro-life, etc. This is not to say that the calls for small government, fed audit, and other Libertarian principles were not there, more to say that they were mixed in with a general anti-Obama/democrat principles sentiment.

I don't think it would not be fair of me to say more than that, especially since I didn't cover the numerous public speeches that took place after the march where perhaps another impression was given.



[edit on 12 Sep 2009 by schrodingers dog]

Excellent job well done SDog, could there have been a more descent crowd present?

Question: How did the Police act with the crowds? Were there bathrooms set up? Vendors selling food and beverages?