My Grant Park Trip Into Obamaland........

Has the City of Chicago Released the Crowd Numbers for last nights rally yet? I heard one estimate at 125,000 people. I was down there - and 125,000 seems to small. I would estimate 350 - 450,000. There were people in the main fenced area and they were packed like sardines. The Fire Marshall stopped additional people from going in and they opened up another area for the overflow. That was just the crowd in the park. In the surrounding streets - Michigan Ave and streets leading west toward State Street - there was an additional throng of people. Downtown Chicago was teeming people last night.

My ticket said they weren't going to let people into the fenced in area until 8:30pm. So I took my time getting down. I got downtown around 7:30 - 7:45pm - just as I heard on my headphone radio that Obama won Philly. I knew then it was going to be a good night. As I wiped some tears of joy from my eyes and I learned that they opened the fenced in area at 6:30pm. The line waiting for security to get in near Congress & Michigan was enormous. I walked to the end of the line which was down near Roosevelt & Michigan. I didn't get up to Congress until 9:55pm which at this time the fenced in area was closed. Security was lax and they let us in with just a cursory check of our e-mail tickets. As I neared the area the roar went up right at 10pm - when it was announced that Obama won. I managed to get myself to a spot behind and the fence looking into the area. It was one sea of flag waving humanity. Not long after I positioned myself behind too real tall guys that didn't need to be in front of me. I was able to hear and see the McCain concession speech on the Jumbotron. While McCain was concessing - a Chicago chant "na na na na - na na na na - hey hey ey - good bye - was started by a group near where I was positioned. At least the crowd behind the fence where I was carried this on for a bit before it died down. It was really funny - but I don't think Barack would have condoned it - if he heard it.

My crowning achievement for the night was calling my Repug friend up from this event. Eight years ago - he and his wife called me up from a Bush Inaugural Ball - just to stick it too me and rub it in that Bush won. I waited 8 years for this. Ah - revenge is so sweet.

Soon after that a short video clip was played and then music. The crowd went wild when they played "Sweet Home Chicago" - how cool and appropriate. Then there was an invocation; the pledge of allegiance; the national anthem and then Barack came out to give a fantastic acceptance speech. As the Remember the Titans theme music came on Barack was joined by his family and the Biden's. At this time the crowd started to move. A mass exodus. Michigan Avenue and a big part of State Street became malls as they were blocked off.

The crowd was very respectful and fun loving and proud. I saw many a teared up eye. There were young and old, families with young kids and infants. They were black, white, brown and yellow. All having a great celebration for our favorite son.

There was a large police presence - that didn't interfere and just responded when people asked directions. CTA had buses all through the Loop to handle the exodus. I took the train in to and from Union Station. They had extra service for the whole day and night.

All kinds of Obama paraphenalia was being sold. T-shirts, caps, buttons, posters. I took pictures of some of the vendors. I'm sure most of them weren't approved or sanctioned by the city or the Obama campaign - but the sales went on. One guy was selling a black t-shirt with white lettering that said: A New Hope - I Was There When Change Happened At Grant Park - Nov 4th 2008. But the most novel souvenir was an Obama Maraca - a noise making maraca that has Barack's picture on it. This looked to be real popular with the 7 to 10 age group - as I saw or 'er' heard.

One guy was walking around with a "That One" sign. A convertible Caddy rode up and down Michigan Avenue - the Obamalac. They had a website posted on the side - along with Obama '08 there was www.obamalac.com. I haven't visited the site but I imagine its pics of the vehicle. Many of the building were lit with red, white and blue lites. One had USA formed with lit windows in the building. Many film crews walking up and back Michigan Ave - taking movies of the festivities and all of us standing in line. The Grant Park Hotel's sign advertised the following: Celebrate - Obamamartinis or McCainarita's until closing. I got to bet they sold a lot of the martinis last night.

From my vantage point behind the fence - I got a lot of pictures of people holding up their camera's taking pictures.

All and all - I was happy to be able to be there for this historic occasion. I didn't think I was going to make it as I didn't get my e-mail ticket until 1:44PM Tuesday. I was bummed and pissed that I didn't get a ticket - some of you probably saw my post yesterday before 2PM. Sorry.

The thing that really made me tear up though was just being in Grant Park and experiencing this. I thought back that 40 years ago during the '68 Dem Convention - I went down to Grant Park too. Quite a contrast. What I saw back then wasn't pretty. I saw police with riot gear sitting on CTA buses - smacking their billy clubs against the side of the bus as they sat with their heads out the window. They were taunting the protesters, flower children, hippies, yippies that were there to protest the Viet Nam War. Yes - I saw the police provoking the protesters and inciting the riots that ensued. Luckily I left before the worst of that day and watched the massacre on TV at home. It was sad.

And here - in the same area - 40 years later - another historical event. This time - quite different with a promise of Hope and ending of our current war. Same message - different crowd - different time - different President. Thank God for Barack Obama.

NOTE: I couldn't find a newspaper all over the area which I live. I'm told the situation was the same all over the Chicago area. People are going in and buying up stacks of newspapers to keep (maybe sell) of this momentous occasion. Just wondering if the newspaper situation is the same all over the country. In my quest for a paper - I spoke to many black's searching for the same. I've never seen a happier and prouder group of people. They are beaming and it's making me beam and proud to be able to be part of this.

300k at least. Some pics here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7793674&mesg_id=7793674

My son and daughter came with me to the rally last night!

We had a great time. Chicago was sooo happy! Happy people everywhere.
We were able to get in there about 9:15.
I put up a pic thread(heavy). It's at my journal if you want to check it out.
Or here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7800866

Wish I could have seen what Chicago looked like from the TV.