- Title: USA: Americans battle confusion, crowds, cold to witness Obama inauguration
- Date: 22nd January 2009
- Summary: VARIOUS OF CROWDS MAN DIRECTING WOMAN TO DIFFERENT ENTRY POINT (SOUNDBITE) (English) PATRICIA ANN ROBINSON SAYING: "It is so much walking, I probably should have stayed at home and watched it out on T.V." REPORTER ASK, "SO WHY DID YOU COME?" RESPONDS, "To be a part of history, to be a part of the energy...and it's so [tedious] up in here," RESPONDS POINTING TO HER LEGS. "Up in here, up in here where the gallop is at." . (SOUNDBITE) (English) SAYING: VANESSSA SOLIZ FROM WYOMING SAYING" "It was just too cold. There were people sleeping on the floor, they had cardboard boxes they were using for houses. After four hours, I could not walk." VARIOUS OF POLICE STANDING OVER MAN COLLAPSED ON THE GROUND VARIOUS OF SPECTATORS SEATED IN BICYCLE TAXI (SOUNDBITE) (English) GREG REED AND CAROL CARTER FROM CHICAGO SAYING: "It was just too cold, too cold, too many people but it's great, absolute great. If I could stand out there, I would, but I have chemo every week and I'm a little tired now." BICYCLE TAXI DRIVER ADVISING PASSENGERS ON WHICH ROUTE TO TAKE CROWD WALKING
- Embargoed: 6th February 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVAA2SOYE7DT3R9GWWLPBY7W5GLS
- Story Text: Massive crowds chanted "Let us in. Let us in" swarmed entry points to the inauguration of Barack Obama.
Thousands of people with highly coveted tickets to the inauguration were stranded underground for hours and missed the event due to overwhelming turnout and confusion at checkpoints.
"What was really going to be the most exciting day of my life is really pretty disappointing," Cindy Morton Rose,who spent thousands of dollars to attend the inauguration, said.
Cyrus from Michigan described the scene as an "absolute mess"
with "no rhyme or reason."
A winter chill also complicated matters for many would be spectators.
"It was just too cold. There were people sleeping on the floor, they had cardboard boxes they were using for houses. After four hours, I could not walk." Vanessa Soliz of Wyoming said.
Her sentiment was echoed by many other spectators who eagerly purchased handwarmers and scarves from vendors operating outside entrypoints.
For some, the cumulative effect of extreme cold and having to walk several miles was particularly challenging.
"It is so much walking, I probably should have stayed at home and watched it out on T.V., Patricia Ann Robinson said pointing to her aching legs.
In spite of the complications, many were particularly determined to participate in the day's event. Carol Carter who suffers from cancer and is currently undergoing chemotherapy said she felt it was imperative that she attend the inauguration. Originally misdirected to the wrong entry gate, she battled the foot traffic by hopping into a bicycle cab.
Authorities also investigated a potential threat, of uncertain credibility, in connection with the inauguration of president-elect Barack Obama, the U.S. Homeland Security Department said.
The threat concerned an unspecified incident involving the Somali Islamist insurgent group al Shabaab, authorities said.
The FBI and Homeland Security Department notified law enforcement around the United States of the potential threat on Monday, authorities said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The bulletin was part of regular efforts to keep local officials aware of security developments. There was no change to the overall threat level, the department said.
A law enforcement official said the United States had been tracking the al Shabaab-related threat for several days.
The Somali group is on the U.S. list of terrorist groups. It has primarily acted in the violence-wracked Muslim East African country, but U.S.
intelligence officials have recently expressed concern about young Somalis living in the United States who have gone to train with al Shabaab.
Obama's transition team had been briefed on the threat warning, Knocke said.
Authorities were investigating a potential threat, of uncertain credibility, in connection with the inauguration of president-elect Barack Obama, the U.S. Homeland Security Department said on Tuesday.
The threat concerned an unspecified incident involving the Somali Islamist insurgent group al Shabaab, authorities said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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