Famecrawler
Rally Tally – How Many Showed Up for the Rally to Restore Sanity?
By all estimates today’s Comedy Central Rally to Restore Sanity was a rousing success with crowds spilling out into the National Mall. The network underestimated the number of folks who would be interested to show up and voice their political views in front of an audience when it filed for its permits estimating crowds would only number about 60,000. In reality, it appears that everyone interested in or fed up with the political process decided to show up and voice their opinions.
Whether it was on stage, on signs, or in the crowd there was a swarm of differing opinions on hand for The Rally to Restore Sanity. What were the final attendance numbers?
The National Park Service is estimating that the crowds numbered “well over 200,000″. By comparison the Glenn Beck Rally To Restore Honor’s crowd has been estimated to be between 87,000 and 300,000. However millions more showed up for today’s rally via the live television coverage on Comedy Central. A number celebrity entertainers showed up to support the event including Sheryl Crow, Kid Rock, John Legend and Tony Bennett.
Did you tune in or tune out today’s Rally to Restore Sanity?
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9 Comments
Peter E commented on Oct 30 10 at 8:54 pmUm… the National Park Service doesn’t do official estimates. It hasn’t done that for the past decade ever since the organizers of the Million Man March successfully sued them. Where did you get that obviously incorrect story from? With that said, yes I think the crowd turnout was comparable to Beck’s rally.
Christa commented on Oct 30 10 at 9:16 pmThat is correct, the park service does not. Having been at both, I can assure you, not counting all the satellite programs, there were vastly more people there today.
Rebecca Jamieson commented on Oct 30 10 at 9:18 pmCan we settle the question of which rally garnered more attendees by posting side by side photos from the air of the two events? The only photos I saw of the Beck rally turned out to be “falsified” (they used a photo from a different event, even FOX admitted such). I thoroughly enjoyed today’s event via Comedy Central. Thanks to all who worked so hard for this Rally to Restore Sanity. Favorite sign? “I Believe in a Sanity Clause!”
Lee commented on Oct 30 10 at 9:26 pmIs it really necessary to have thirteen posts about this rally?
Kevin commented on Oct 30 10 at 10:05 pmBeck’s rally offically had between 87,000-96,000 in attendance. They had a permit that allowed up to 300,000 but they didn’t reach that number.
Bill commented on Oct 30 10 at 11:36 pmMy wife and I watched it from beginning to end and it was fantastic. A friend of mine attended from Miami and he sent lots of photos. Having attended many large outdoor events, I’d say there was easily over 250k people there. It was shoulder to shoulder unlike Beck’s even which got around 90k people. The trains in D.C. where still packed after 5pm.
I thought the event was well orchestrated and Stewart’s sincere closing was amazing. I’m more optimistic sanity still has a chance in the U.S.
LouF commented on Oct 31 10 at 4:31 amThe “Comedy Central” rally had less than half the people that the Glenn Beck rally had. NBC News had the Beck rally at 300,000.
JS commented on Oct 31 10 at 10:30 amI was there. There was absolutely no room for lawn chairs. People were climbing the trees just for extra space. I think the lawn chairs accounted for half of the attendees at Beck’s rally, not counting the people in them.
PulSe commented on Nov 01 10 at 7:06 pmBeck attendees probably weigh 20% more than Stewart attendees. Do the overhead photos account for large tires around the midsection ?
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