Posted on 09/20/2009 6:10:19 AM PDT by gusopol3
Metro Delivers Hundreds of Thousands to 9/12 Rally Posted September 15th, 2009 at 4.58pm in Ongoing Priorities.
Much has been made over the attendance at the march and rally in DC on September 12. Reports varied, with many on the left clinging to an unofficial DC Fire Department estimate of 60,000 to 70,000. Some reports from overseas went as far as to say two million. However, one completely objective source of information is the number of people who rode Metro, Washington, DC’s mass transit subway system. Washington Metro measures and releases its ridership numbers and these numbers have been used in the past to judge the size of major events in Washington, DC.
For a fair comparison, we looked at the Saturday after Labor Day in 2008, which is when September 12 fell in 2009. On September 12, 2009, 437,624 rode metro rail. By comparison, on the Saturday after Labor Day in 2008, 202,528 rode. The difference is 235,096. Even if nobody else came to the March, and we know they did by chartered bus and by carpool, the theory that only 70,000 people were there is off by roughly 335% - debunking the 70,000 claim. To take it a step further for comparison, we also looked at the attendance for President Obama’s Inauguration in January 2009. Convential wisdom estimates that attendance for the inaugural was between 800,000 and 1.8 million, or an average of 1.3 million. If you compare Metro riders on Martin Luther King Day 2008, the similarly situated federal holiday in January to the Inauguration in 2009, approximately 975,000 additional people rode metro for the Inauguration. If you compare 975,000 additional metro riders as a percentage of the 1.3 million total who attended and you do the same for 235,000 additional metro riders for the 9/12 March, than at least 313,000 went downtown for the explicit purpose of marching against out-of-control government spending on September 12. This assumes a similar percentage of attendees took buses, cabs, drove in, walked, etc.
If you believe the number was 1.8 million at the Inauguration and you do the same for 9/12, then the number is 433,000. So is an estimate of 313,000 to 433,000 attendees accurate? Well, it is certainly an unbiased and impartial start to understanding the debate over crowd size. The bottom line is that hundreds of thousands of Americans who were upset with government spending, a failed stimulus, a government takeover of health care, and a massive energy tax came with their parents, children, grandparents, cousins, college roommates, etc. to a multi-generational and peaceful family protest in Washington.
Yup. And everyone was pleasant, good natured and cheerful. And - unlike the leftist protestors we've faced over the years - Tea Party Patriots left the Capitol grounds and surrounding areas SPOTLESS after the rally. Any trash was neatly stashed in and around the available trash bins. And NO American flags were on the ground nor tossed in the trash.
The police we spoke to were stunned and grateful. :o)
Yes, I know... I heard that same Metro story from MANY callers on the various conservative talk radio shows, too. What makes your and Vor Lady's stories extra-interesting is the fact that you were pushed through by the Metro employees, and probably not counted. I had never thought of that... I assumed they counted everyone.
Darn, I sure wish we could've had an accurate count... I still say it was close to 1 million.
It was greatest event I’ve ever attended. I’ve never been among so many decent, courteous, friendly people in my life. I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.
Everybody who marched should be proud of themselves. I know I am.
>>the number Metro trains available on Inauguration
>>Day vs. the number available for the 912 Rally
Yep. The authorities completely underestimated the number of folks they expected to show up on 9-12.
Interesting analysis, but flawed. Ridership on Saturdays (including the 5th and the 19th) has increased to around 300k, so the starting point of the should be approx. 100,000 not 200k as suggested. Also, “ridership” counts entrances and exit, so if someone went to and from the rally on the Metro, that counts twice.
Still, Metro ridership alone should argue for a number higher than the 60-70k reported. Very impressive since even the organizers expected 10,000.
Metro ran on a normal Saturday schedule on 9/12. On inauguration day, Metro ran continuous rush hour service from 4am to 9pm. It recorded a ridership of 1.12 million.
Everybody who marched should be proud of themselves. I know I am.
I have to agree, and - yes - weren't the people just wonderful? It was inspiring and exhilarating.
We had a quick lunch at a nearby Hyatt Hotel before the official "rally" started at the Capitol, just after the March. Our waiter (who was from India) was very curious about the March and the 9/12 principles. We discussed it with him, and he wholeheartedly agreed with us. He said he couldn't wait until he got off work at 3pm that day, and said he'd join the rally. Warmed my heart... :o)
Thanks for that photo! Yeah, that's how I saw the Capitol Police on 9/12... looking pretty relaxed, but very helpful. :o)
It is SOOOOO vastly different when the Leftists take over DC, believe me.
Yes, but we all know the MSM / Fringe Media / State-run Media will ignore it.
unlike the leftist protestors we've faced over the years - Tea Party Patriots left the Capitol grounds and surrounding areas SPOTLESS after the rally. Any trash was neatly stashed in and around the available trash bins. And NO American flags were on the ground nor tossed in the trash.
A reminder what the mall looked like after the National Mall Post-Obamapalooza January 20, 2009 Obamors left...
"Everything I Need to Know About Being a Liberal I Learned in Kindergarden"
Rule #72. Just throw your stuff on the ground - a responsible grown up will clean it up.
WOW. Thank you for those photos!
>>It is SOOOOO vastly different when the
>>Leftists take over DC, believe me.
Oh I believe you. I remember when my LEO dad had to come home and get his personal shotgun during the Leftist’s festivities back in ‘68.
Also, weren’t there more than just this gathering on the mall that day? I read something on another thread about that.
The DC scum that would ride public transportation to obamas inaguration would far outnumber the few Republicans in the area that would.
Since most came from other states they probably wouldn’t use the government choo choo anyway.
The beauty of the 70,000 number is that next time, when the counts will be accurate at, say, 1,500,000 people, we can say 20 TIMES as many people showed up!
We arrived at the Federal Triangel stop at about 0915(due to Orange line delays) and we were told to walk thru / around the gates instead of waiting in line to use our tickets due to the massive amount of people for that little station. We went up to the plaza and started marching at approx. 1000.
The crowd was so massive so early that we could not hear any of the speeches at Freedom Plaza. We all tried to group by states before we marched. We arrived at the Capital around 1045 and we went left and ate an early lunch under the trees.
For as long as I live I will NEVER forget the steady stream of Patriots that kept coming down Pennsylvania ave. for the next 2.5 hours. Periodically you could hear the roar of the crowd marching down Penn. avenue!
At one point 2 Capitol policemen walked by quickly talking on their radios about how they would be able to close the capitol grounds and divert folks to the Mall.
Thanks to all the folks that made it to the Capitol. I am convinced we scared the you know what out of the corrupt career pols down there!
Yep and yep. Everyone I talked with was passionate but not violent. If folks bumped into you, they begged your pardon. Several of the people standing near me at the Capitol steps had brought garbage sacks just to make sure the place was left clean; I wished I had thought of it as well, but my packing skills this trip were sorely lacking. ;-)
The train was like a sardine can! I got on the blue line train with about 12 other Freepers but by the time we were herded out of the Federal Triangle station, me and glock_fan were all alone so we joined in the surge up Penn. Ave. 9/12 was one of the most exhilarating days of my life!
As we left the capitol I thanked a metro cop for his dilligent watching; his wary acceptance of my praise tickled me since I look about as harmless as they come. I’m not, but I do look that way...
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