Purple Gate: Obama Inaugural Purple Ticket-Holder Turmoil
"It is clear that there were significant problems with managing crowds... There will be an after-action report compiled, not to cast blame, but to help us understand what mistakes were made so that we can make sure they are not repeated at future Inaugurals." - January 22, 2009, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.)
This gallery is dedicated to all the North standing purple ticket holders that were denied access to the Inauguration Ceremonies on January 20, 2009. Capitol Police and the Secret Service were not prepared for the amount of ticket holders passing through the gate. Silver ticket holders mixed in and flooded the West Standing section designated for disabled guests. This mistake caused security to shut down the Purple entrance until order was later restablished. Unfortunetely, the amount of people let in was limited afterwards.
Thousands of ticket holders waited in line up to six hours with no information from the Capitol Police, Secret Service, the District Government, or the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies on what to do. When the cannons blew the gates closed and hopes of seeing President Obama fleeted. The only consolation was the fact that this Inauguration was not only about getting a glimpse of Barack Obama swearing in. This historical event was about celebrating the hope of change for everyone in our great nation. Power to the Purple!
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Tue 20 Jan 2009 10:16:50 AM Everyone speculates what the problem of getting inside is.
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Tue 20 Jan 2009 10:16:53 AM The long white search tent can be clearly seen in the background. This is the designated entrance for Yellow ticket holders.
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Tue 20 Jan 2009 10:24:44 AM At the same point as 08:44 AM location. Lack of leadership has turned this entrance into a giant mess.
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Tue 20 Jan 2009 10:49:10 AM Volunteer converses by cell to Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies that no one is able to enter Purple gate.
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Tue 20 Jan 2009 10:55:24 AM Crowd stares in disbelief at the abandoned search tents. Doubt is looming. Taft Memorial is in the background.
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Tue 20 Jan 2009 11:01:44 AM People that came from accross the United States display their Purple tickets.
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Tue 20 Jan 2009 11:02:35 AM Without law enforcement officials nobody knows where to go.
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Tue 20 Jan 2009 11:03:39 AM The Purple entrance gate at the corner of First Street NW and Constitution Avenue is closed.
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Tue 20 Jan 2009 11:14:49 AM Inaugural security monitors crowd from rooftop.
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Tue 20 Jan 2009 11:19:16 AM * Fustrated ticket holder considers jumping fence.
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Tue 20 Jan 2009 11:36:56 AM People begin waving their tickets in desperation.
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Tue 20 Jan 2009 11:37:02 AM More people waving Purple tickets.
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Tue 20 Jan 2009 11:47:32 AM The crowd starts chanting "Let Us In! Let Us In! Let Us In!
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Tue 20 Jan 2009 11:52:59 AM The Yellow gate entrance allows Purple ticket holder admitance. But, only at a trickle pace.
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Tue 20 Jan 2009 11:53:08 AM Only few of the scan machines were running. This limited the amount ticket holders allowed to enter.
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