How Many Attended the 9/12 Washington DC Tea Party?

New York Times thinks it's in thousands: "Thousands Rally in Capital to Protest Big Government". Washington Post ups the number to tens of thousands: "Anti-Government Protests Draws Tens of Thousands to D.C."

Some Youtube videos of the event claim 1 to 2 million, and U.K.'s Daily Mail Online says up to 2 million. 2 million?? That's got to be a mistake, as the discrepancy in numbers (thousands to 2 million) is just too huge. Even if this 2 million number is a mistake, what I've seen in videos and photographs is pretty impressive. (Watch the time lapse video at the end of this post.)

Up to two million march to US Capitol to protest against Obama's spending in 'tea-party' demonstration (9/12/09 Mail Online) [photographs are from this article.]

"Up to two million people marched to the U.S. Capitol today, carrying signs with slogans such as "Obamacare makes me sick" as they protested the president's health care plan and what they say is out-of-control spending.

"The line of protesters spread across Pennsylvania Avenue for blocks, all the way to the capitol, according to the Washington Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency. "

A lot of signs look to be hand-made. According to the ABC News, "As he left Washington this morning aboard the Marine One helicopter, President Obama flew over the crowds forming near the Capitol."

That's kind of "Nixonian" moment. (Nixon flew over the protesters to go play golf.)

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