“Because it’s history. I mean I could say I watched it on TV, but I can never say that I didn’t go because it was too cold, you know? Nothing a jacket and a little snuggling up to a couple people can’t fix.”
(Rachel Battle, 22, of Chesapeake, Va., student, Democrat)
“For such a long time, I think, many, many people in our society have been disenfranchised—African-Americans, people of color—and so to have a president-elect that represents some of the values that are dear to me, to have someone who resembles me is a great testament for my son. So that he believes and sees that the dreams that I’ve always given him can actually come to fruition.”
(John Hurley, 57, of Atlanta, Ga., medical student, Democrat)
“I thought it was interesting that he touched on social responsibility as the main topic. There were so many things he could have talked about, and that was like a good one, I thought.”
(James Alfano, 24, of Washington, D.C., lobbyist, independent)
“Just thought that it was such a beautiful moment for our country. I just wanted to be with other people — I thought that it was maybe a time for a turning point in our history both because it is the first African American and also because I think we’re coming together as a nation.”
(Mark Jacobina, 50, has lived in Washington, D.C., for four years, works with people with developmental disabilities, Democrat)
“I felt like being there would be a totally different experience than watching it on TV. I felt like being around a lot of people and having the experience together, even though it was miserably cold, was worth it.”
(Owen Washburn, 25, originally from Massachusetts but now lives in Washington, D.C., congressman’s staff member, Democrat)
(Laura Brandon is a senior with dual majors in newspaper journalism and political science.)
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