by F. Grey Parker
ClICK HERE to view our coverage from the rally on Saturday
 |
| Photo copyright © 2011Nicole Zimmerer |
What print/interweb coverage has been disseminated over the last 48 hours is alarming for different reasons.
Prior to this weekend's rally outside the State of Illinois Building, we contacted the city and inquired about access to the building's upper floors. We were told the building would not be open for reasons of security and liability. Our interest in access was to make as accurate an assessment of crowd size as possible with an aerial view. In the last 48 hours, numbers have been reported as low as "several hundred" by the Chicago Tribune going up to "850 to 900" as reported in the LA Times.
As is always the case with political demonstrations, there is some argument over attendance. Several angry Walker supporters have e-mailed us to complain about our numbers. Allow me to explain our estimate of "several thousand." The width of the crowd both in front and in back was between 70 to 80 persons. The length of the crowd on either side was between 60 and 70 persons. The crowd was dense enough to make movement throughout it quite difficult. I counted these numbers myself repeatedly from 12:15 pm to 12:45 pm. Let us for moment suppose that my lowest figures were double the actual size; that would still give us a crowd of over 2000.
Of course, this may be the first you've heard of any of this. That "liberal media bias" sure is hard to find lately.
No comments:
Post a Comment