Reply #20: 12,000? [View All]

I wish there were more too, but the police and the B* advance teams did a good job of limiting the numbers.

First, it was a difficult crowd to estimate. One central march with many thousands wandering around at the edge of the exclusion zone and spread out over the city center. People would move in and out of the main parade. They would leave to get coffee. To the casual observer some people there might not have appeared to be protesters, but they stood quietly, like a vigil. No doubt the press is not counting the many who protested in nearby towns.

It's the middle of the work week. Transportation was awful but the fear of gridlock kept many people away. Fear of violence kept many away. 12,000 police kept many away. I was 32F with light snow, terrible weather for here. (Eat your hear out Buffalo.)

And how motivated would Americans be to protest the visit of a European Minister?