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 08:10:08 AM North View on First Street NW. There have been two surges that move crowd several feet. Everyone is cheering.
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Tue 20 Jan 2009 08:10:22 AM North View on First Street NW. Temperature 27 degrees Fahrenheit in the building's shadow. Still no volunteer or anyone to give information.
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Tue 20 Jan 2009 08:10:46 AM South View on First Street NW. People are starting to get very cold.
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Tue 20 Jan 2009 08:38:49 AM U.S. Congressman Charles B. Rangel moves through crowd.
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Tue 20 Jan 2009 08:46:39 AM Aproximately 20 yards from corner of First Street NW and Indiana Avenue.
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Tue 20 Jan 2009 9:00:27 AM Crowd on First Street NW
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Tue 20 Jan 2009 9:34:23 AM One woman just dropped on the ground from the frigid cold.
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Tue 20 Jan 2009 9:35:12 AM A medic just arrived to handle situation. Response time was very quick. People are huddling together to stay warm.
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Tue 20 Jan 2009 9:41:04 AM Just had another line surge. The crowd is cheering.
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Tue 20 Jan 2009 10:00:04 AM Finally, we made it to the corner of First and Indiana. It feels good to be out of the shade and into the warmth of the sun.
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Tue 20 Jan 2009 10:06:40 AM Moved ahead another couple of feet. The line just keeps getting wider.
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Tue 20 Jan 2009 10:08:26 AM Little progress has been made. But, word spreads that Obama is running fifteen minutes late. So there is still hope.
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Tue 20 Jan 2009 10:08:36 AM Even in the sunlight the temperature is very cold.
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Tue 20 Jan 2009 10:13:53 AM Moving forward at a snail's pace. People begin discussing other options.
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Tue 20 Jan 2009 10:16:43 AM Looking back at the crowd behind.
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