An estimated 100,000 people are expected to brave the elements and witness Bush's swearing in, as well as to line the route along the historic inaugural parade. While many will rejoice in honor of the nation's new Republican boy-king, others will be there to mourn a potentially royal disaster. One guy, however, does announce that the IAC will have security and legal observers scattered throughout downtown Washington. He reads a phone number to call, should help be needed. Earlier in the week, the IAC circulated an e-mail with additional advice.
Organizers also stress the importance of toting plenty of water.
It's grim enough to wake up in jail. Toward the back of the bus, a middle-aged guy hawks copies of Revolutionary Worker, a paper published by the Revolutionary Communist Party. His sales technique consists of handing out unsolicited copies of the rag. Too embarrassed to retrieve the now-crumpled papers, people cough up the cash. Most folks on the bus say they are motivated to demonstrate at the presidential inaugural not so much because of George W. Bush's policies, but because of how the election was decided.