Giant 9-12 Link-a-Thon: Links to Stories, Photos, and Attendance Statistics from Across the ‘Net
ByAfter April 15th, we posted a large list of attendance statistics for tax day tea party rallies that we called “the numbers game.”
There’s been a lot of focus this time around on attendance statistics for the March on Washington. Some are reporting that 2 million or more attended the march. Others estimate the turnout in the tens of thousands. What’s the truth: We were there and we don’t know. The crowd was far too large to do any eyeball estimate and so disbursed that counts based on aerial photography might be difficult.
We understand the importance of the “numbers game” in terms of impact and generating attention, but this time around the more important consideration for us is the realization that conservative protesters are far more effective than their radical liberal counterparts. We asked a police officer yesterday if there had been any arrests. The officers response: “zero.” No fighting with cops, no flag-burning, and no vandalism. We didn’t even see any littering.
The conservative “activist” movement has managed to do what the failed devotees of Saul Alinsky have never been able to do; they’ve linked public protest with the number one rule of American politics: Present your ideas with the understanding that the American people are moderate by nature and suspicious of idealogy by tradition. Unlike so many other countries, the United States hasn’t developed successful political factions that disagree on fundamentals. Sure, there may be a few scattered open communists, but they generally don’t have representatives who openly identify with their views at the national level. Rather than protesting as wasted youth and a troubled counter-culture, the marchers we saw protested as real people with real concerns about taxes and the burdens they and their children will face from excessive government. The signs, comments, and speeches given at the 9/12 event we attended yesterday and the many tea parties we’ve attended have (almost) all been in line with a mainstream “talk radio” conservatism — teasing with gentle humor and a little politically incorrect edge. Basically, rather than crazed kids hypnotized by their political science protesters, the tea party movement looks like a group of adults who are finally fed up enough to try a little radical honesty for a change.
So, because we think that qualitative aspect is so important, we’ll be updating the list of links throughout the day with more than reports on attendance at 9-12 events. Certainly, send in any attendance numbers you have, but we feel free to include links to news coverage, video, and photographs.
Updated 9/19/09:
Insider Online: DC Metro Numbers on 9/12 March
Updated 9/15/09:
Blog Prof: Confirmed: More than 1 million at 9/12 tea party at D.C.
Bureaucrash: Bureaucrash at the 912 DC March on Washington
Write on Nevada: 9/12 Rally wrap-up
American Thinker: Understanding ‘Angry Mobs’
Red Mass Group: So How Many People Showed Up For The EPIC Tea Party In DC?
I Hate the Media: How many were really at the D.C. protest rally?
LA Times: Crowd estimates vary wildly for Capitol march
FreedomWorks: Hundreds of Thousands of Patriots March on DC
FreedomWorks: 9/12: Race, the Tea Party Protesters and a Battle of Interpretations
FreedomWorks: Tea Partiers Take D.C.
FreedomWorks: Thousands Rally in Capital to Protest Big Government
FreedomWorks: ‘Freedom fighters’ take a stand in D.C.
FreedomWorks: Debate Over Tea Party Protest Numbers Masks the Real History Made
FreedomWorks: Thousands pack downtown DC to protest spending
FreedomWorks: Massive crowd marches against Obama’s agenda
FreedomWorks: Protesters March on Washington
FreedomWorks: CNN Broadcasts Directly from the March on Washington
FreedomWorks: Fox News Covers the March on Washington
FreedomWorks: Reason TV Covers the March on Washington
FreedomWorks: How Many People Came to 9/12 Taxpayer March on Washington?
World Net Daily: Just how many marched on D.C.?
Wizbang: How many people attended Saturday’s Tea Party march in DC?
Ace of Spades: According to USAToday’s Crowd-Size Estimator, the 9/12 Demonstration Drew Over One Million Citizens
Ace of Spades: WaPo: Tea Partiers Are Confused and Also Racist
News Busters: NY Times Buries Massive Conservative D.C. Rally, Hails Smaller Liberal Protests
News Busters: CNBC’s Santelli Rips Media for Ignoring 9/12 DC March
News Busters: ABC’s Bill Weir Frets Over 9/12 Rally Rage and ‘Anger’; Worries About Lost ‘Civility’
News Busters: CNN Zeroes-In on ‘Dark Undercurrent’ of Tea Parties
News Busters: CNN’s Situation Room Charges: ‘Racial Tinge to Tea Movement’
News Busters: Leftwing Blogosphere Dreams Up Bizarre Conspiracy Theories to Explain Away DC 9/12 Time Lapse Video
CNS News: The Fine Art of American Protest
CNS News: A Small Gathering at the Capitol
Moonbattery: Bushy Run Battlefield 9-12 Tea Party
Overlawyered: D.C. park police crowd estimates
CNS News: Tea Party Protesters Blast Government-Run Health Care
Riehl World View: Dodd Spokes Attacks Tea Party Movement
Hot Air: Axelrod: Tea Party protests don’t represent “mainstream” view of ObamaCare
Updated 9/14/09:
(click on image to be taken to other photos of the 912 event)
Riehl World View: 9/12: Do The Numbers Matter At This Point?
Riehl World View: 9/12 Attendance Issues Addressed
Moonbattery: Sophia Elena’s Tea Party Time Lapse
Being Frank Doesn’t Require Harshness: 912: America Awakens in 2009 (Many photos: You judge the crowd size)
Moonbattery: Statesboro Tea Party Videos
Small Business Against Big Government: SBABG’s photos from the HUGE 9.12 “March on Washington” in DC
Blog Prof: Thousands Turn Out At Tea Party West In LA
American Thinker: America Spoke
American Thinker: 9/12 was a transformative event
FreedomWorks: March On, My Friend
Flopping Aces: Largest Political Protest in History was More “Green” Than Obama Inaugural!
One Citizen Speaking: 9/12 Protest March: Lies, damned lies and statistics
FreedomWorks: Hundreds of Thousands of Patriots March on DC
Powerline: How Big Was the Crowd?
Polipundit: “Astroturf”
Gateway Pundit: The 9-12 Protest Video the State-Run Media Will Hide
Gateway Pundit: CLEAN Conservatives & FILTHY Liberals– A Photographic Essay
Gateway Pundit: Busting Another State-Run Media Lie— Visual Proof That Protest Yesterday Was 1 Million Plus
CNS News: Tea Party Crowd Stands Behind Republican Rep. Joe Wilson
News Busters: 9/12 DC Marchers Take on More than Government Fiscal Policy — The Media
Ace of Spades: DC Teaparty Roundup
Ace of Spades: DC Mobbed- reports from MK Ham & Uncle J
CNS News: DeMint Calls Out Obama and Congress: ‘Americans Are Awake, They’re Informed, And They’re Outraged’
CNS News: Tea Party Turnout Raises Republican Hopes for 2010 Midterm Elections
CNS News: Fiscal Conservatives March on D.C. to Protest Big Government Spending
Moonbattery: More Proof, Conservatives Are Just Better People Than Liberals
Updated 9/13/09:
Riehl World View: 9/12 DC Attendance Round Up
Statesman: ‘Magnitude of rally took authorities by surprise’…
Michelle Malkin: Yes, the picture is real, nutroots
Washington Post: Largest protest against President Obama since he took office…
Michelle Malkin: Celebrating the 9/12 rallies
Riehl World View: DC912 – They Came In Small Groups
Riehl World View: Up To 2 Million March On DC
Riehl World View: DC 912 – Looking Back
Riehl World View: DC912 – Best Producer, Signs
Moonbattery: Statesboro, Georgia 9-12 Tea Party
Riehl World View: 9/12: Big Crowds In DC – Pics Rolling In
Moonbattery: Roswell, Georgia 9-12 Tea Party
Moonbattery: Still More DC Tea Party Photos
Moonbattery: Time Lapse Video of Us Surrounding Them
Moonbattery: Still More From DC
Moonbattery: Massive Turnout for DC Tea Party
Moonbattery: Phoenix 9-12 Tea Party
Moonbattery: March on Washington Tea Party Pictures
Newsbusters: Best Tea Party Protest Sign Yet?
Red State: 2,000,000 March on Washington
Red State: Capitol Hill Tea Party ‘09 — iPhone Photo Essay
Libertarian Republican: Surprise! Left-leaning MSNBC gives decent coverage to DC Tea Party Protest
Gateway Pundit: TWO MILLION PLUS PROTEST BIG GOVERNMENT IN DC
Ace of Spades: Tea Party in DC UPDATED 2x
Gateway Pundit: 12,000 PATRIOTS IN QUINCY, ILLINOIS!
Libertarian Republican: RECORD TURN-OUT!!! LARGEST LIBERTARIAN PROTEST IN US HISTORY
Libertarian Republican: Libertarians at the forefront of Tea Party Protest in DC
Libertarian Republican: Washington D.C. Tea Party protestors: Reaganites, Bob Barr Libertarian voters & Sarah Palin supporters
Polipundit: The Conservative Revolution
Libertarian Republican: 1.5 to 2 million Tea Party Patriots March on Washington
Powerline: Dueling Narratives in DC
Flopping Aces: My Favorite Photos from 9/12
World Net Daily: Watch streets fill in Washington
Doug Ross: Two million… or 306?
Doug Ross: Best Tea Party Signs from DC, via Twitter
Flopping Aces: 9/12 March on DC
Open Market: CEI Weekly: Taxpayer March on Washington
Rhetorican: “Conservative Woodstock”
Rhetorican: 9/12 Tea Party West
Yid with Lid: Mr. President, Do You Hear Us NOW?
Rhetorican: This Protest IS Different
WSJ: Protesters March on Washington
LA Times: Thousands gather in D.C. to protest healthcare reform
FOX News: Tea Party Express Arrives for ‘March on Washington’ to Protest Government Spending
Newledger: Tea Party Activists Rally Against Government Spending on National Mall
Q and O: So How Big Was The DC Tea Party?
Legal Insurrection: Brits Want Their Own Tea Party
Right Pundits: 1.5 Million at DC Tea Party
Blog Prof: Describing how the media is reporting the 2 million strong turnout in DC on 912: “YOU LIE!”
Richard Fernandez: September 12
Blog Prof: 12,000 Turn Out For Tea Party In Quincy, Illinois
Blog Prof: Video: Tea Party Protesters Chant ‘Tell the Truth’ to CNN Reporter
Blog Prof: 2+ MILLION (!) Patriots Show Up In DC, Get Downplayed By The Media
Ruby Slippers: Amazing Crowds in DC for 9/12 March on Washington- UPDATED
Ruby Slippers: Signs, signs, everywhere there’s signs
Deconstructing the News: The 9-12 Project
The Real Barack Obama: TeaPartyExpress.org; The 912 Project (Updated 7x)
Beaufort, South Carolina is proud to report apx 500 people in attendance at the 912 Rally, by the Beaufort Tea Party, in the Waterfront Park, on Saturday, 9/12/2009.
Some attendees, walked the few blocks over to Representative Joe Wilson's office to support him and to counter the anti Joe Wilson protesters.
Congratulations on your successful turnout!
Do you or any of your attendees happen to have photos or video of the tea party in Beaufort? If so, you can provide the link here in the comment section or email them to me at heather@dailyuprising.com I will make sure they get posted to the main article.
Thanks for reporting in!!!
Nashville, TN had about 1000, or darn close to it. The Tennessean says 700, so I know it has to be more. They don't count too well.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Independent Tom, Jayne L, Michael Baker, Ann Ubelis and others. Ann Ubelis said: RT @DailyUprising: Contribute to our giant list of links of attendance figures & #912 coverage #tcot #tlot #du #912dc http://bit.ly/18fkGR [...]
I was in DC on 9-12 and have come up with an unscientific estimate of 500,000 and an explanation of how I came up with that number on my blog – http://www.rantnation.com/w/?p=329
I thought this was a good one by @NiceDeb:
http://nicedeb.wordpress.com/2009/09/13/nutroots-...
And @VodkaPundit had an on-the-ground account:
http://pajamasmedia.com/vodkapundit/2009/09/12/th...
I like NiceDeb's rebuttal of the left's argument that the 9/12ers didn't have much of an event. I guess they have to stoop to such tactics to feel better.
And also, if you want to talk not just quantity but *quality*
here are two of my favourite #912-ers:
http://mypict.me/show.php?id=CsE7
http://jimtreacher.com/archives/002121.html
Great photos spot_the_dog! I laughed when I saw the "Boob Czar"…might as well have one of those too, huh?
Thanks so much for contributing!
This comment was posted by "jws" on our "Numbers Game" article. That article referred to the tax day tea party on April 15, 2009. So, I am reprinting this comment by "jws" to the appropriate article here:
jws said: Largo, Florida was held in a venue that holds 700 (published in their advertising) Gasoline Alley! I was there from 1-3. When I arrived at 1, it was wall-to wall in the entire place and parking was impossible. The flow in the door did not stop. I cannot imagine that it was less than 700 and probably with those who were coming and going, probably many more. I was also at July 4 gathering outside Perkins Restaurant in Clearwater and the newspaper reported 100 and were not even there! There were 20 under the underpass and 30-40 under the tree for shade most of the time. I can personally estimate that there had to be between 400-500 that day and the crowds packing the three lanes headed to and from the beach were highly supportive. Not a single news station, camera or reporter was seen by anyone, which seemed very odd. All I could think of then was media controlled by government. Why would they not even show up? I aw at least 8-10 police cars monitoring to make sure we did not get into the streets. Why would there have been that many for 100 people? Sad commentary to obviously have the press run by the government!
Damn right it is. I live in a college town where they are picking off the industries one by one. I can't get a letter into the local paper to save my soul.
Hey, thanks for the link to SBABG.org's photos. It's much appreciated. and thanks for providing the roundup. that made it a lot easier to get around . . .
Here's video I took of 9-12 on the mall between noon and 4. It provides some insight into the attendance…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcQ8kmxrujs
Here's some photos as well:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcQ8kmxrujs
http://www.flickr.com/photos/emjem1963/3937478887...
Thanks for the great 9/12 DC Tea Party coverage. I also covered the event as a freelance photographer. I invite you to visit my website, which contains an extensive photo gallery and commentary on the event. I believe the gallery shows a range of photos not typically seen of the event. I welcome all comments.
Thanks very much.
Deb Phillips
Documenting America's 9|12 Spirit
http://912photos.com