Obama Inauguration Silver Ticket Area at 10am - so much room

This video was taken at 9:50am, just as the choir began singing to open the inaugural ceremony. About 20 minutes before, the crowd in the silver section burst through the makeshift barrier and calmly streamed to the other side of the reflecting pool for a better vantage point right near the purple section. Those silver ticket holders who stayed back had the surreal experience of so much open space, so close to the Capitol and so close to the time of the Inauguration. There was basically no security here.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• obama
• inauguration
• silver
• ticket
• area

[joemolly1]

The actual security gate was close to the Musueam of the American Indian, near 3rd and Independence. It ran along independence past the air & space museum to 7th and beyond. The gate opened at 8, on time and the line moved very quickly through security which was very light.

[justbaileytoday]

It was so empty because they broke down the fence that was supposed to keep everyone off the steps to the Reflection Pool... I stood in line for over 3 hours and then once I got to the Silver Ticket area, the crowd in front of me broke down the barrier and then we all walked around to the other side of the pool for a better view.

[Kawasila]

Where was the security gate to get in here? I was with a huge crowd waiting from 7am at 3rd and Maryland. The cops told us to move ahead when we crossed Independence, but I don't think there was a gate. Eventually, the people up front tore down the fencing and we all ran in.

I don't get it.