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!