The presidential inauguration is just two weeks away and Washington D.C. is expecting record crowds since the event was opened up to accommodate more of the general public.
The presidential inauguration is just two weeks away and Washington D.C. is expecting record crowds since the event was opened up to accommodate more of the general public.
But many Chicagoans plan to forego the masses of people that will converge on the nation’s capital and will take in the historic event in the comfort of their homes or at local viewing parties.
“Why spend all that money to go to Washington when I can watch it at home on my flat screen TV?” said Eric Camp, 36. “It will be in the middle of January and cold so why on earth would I want to stand outside and freeze just to say I was there?”
Keith and Barbara Loves live on the West Side and purchased a 40-inch television for Christmas so they could host an inaugural party at their home.
“We attended an election party the night he was elected, and it was a lot of fun because we got to network with a lot of professionals,” Barbara Loves said. “So this time we are hosting our own party and expect to have the same blend of people attend.”
An estimated 4 million people are expected in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 20. Those with tickets, which are free, will be able to witness the swearing-in ceremony in-person. But those without tickets–likely the majority of people attending–will have to stand outside the Capitol Building and may not be able to see or hear anything.
As of Dec. 30, all hotels in the District, and in nearby Maryland and Virginia, were booked despite many hotels charging as much as $1,000 a night.
For that reason and costs, voters here said they would instead host viewing parties not only at home but also at hotels, bars, colleges and even churches.
Matt Rackstraw, 18, a freshman at Chicago State University, voted for the first time this year. He said the school is having a viewing party for students who want to watch it on a giant screen.
“Believe it or not, everyone does not have a TV in their room and the university knows this, so that may be why they are having a viewing party,” he said. “This is an important event for Blacks because for over 200 years, we have never been in charge of anything on a federal level. Now the tables are turned and we are where we should have been years ago, and that’s on top of the world.”
The South Loop hotel on South State Street is where Melinda Barrington, 48, is holding her inaugural party.
“I live in the South Loop and I work for a Black business so I thought it was only appropriate to have my party at a Black establishment to witness a historical Black event,” she said.
“I only hope Blacks do not get carried away with celebrating and start looting or fighting. This is a memorable moment that we want to remember as a happy time, not a time when Blacks were acting ignorant by breaking the law.”
Copyright 2009 Chicago Defender. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
About Post Author
