First of all, any numbers you've heard are probably really low. I'll tell you why: when we got there, hundreds and hundreds of people were leaving. So many people were walking in the opposite direction that I thought we were going the wrong way. Apparently, they had participated in the march and then left before the speakers started. We got there at 1 p.m. and managed to get to the far side of the reflecting pool and no farther. We couldn't see the screen at all, and could barely hear the speakers. Behind us, the entire grassy area all the way to 3rd street was filled with people. 
See, this is all the closer we could get. Right in the center of the picture, you can barely see a statue. That's the statue that is way back in the distance in pictures taken from the stage! We stayed for about 45 minutes, until the younger boys got antsy. Then we went into the museums. When we finished, the rally had ended. Even though there was trash in every trash can, as well as piled around it, the ground was clear of debris across the mall and all around the meeting area. Nothing. I suspect people probably picked up stuff that was there when they got there, too.
See, this is all the closer we could get. Right in the center of the picture, you can barely see a statue. That's the statue that is way back in the distance in pictures taken from the stage! We stayed for about 45 minutes, until the younger boys got antsy. Then we went into the museums. When we finished, the rally had ended. Even though there was trash in every trash can, as well as piled around it, the ground was clear of debris across the mall and all around the meeting area. Nothing. I suspect people probably picked up stuff that was there when they got there, too.I read an awful lot of signs that day. Did I see any racist ones? NOT ONE. Are people angry? You betcha. Violent? Not at all. This is what America is all about. And I'm proud to have shown it to my kids.
