WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — Tens of thousands of people attended a major campaign speech event by Vice President Kamala Harris on the Ellipse Tuesday night.
It comes exactly one week until the election and was just one of several big events in D.C. that caused traffic and street closures.
After the space inside the fence of the Ellipse was filled to capacity, thousands spilled out onto the grounds of the Washington Monument.
Hours ahead of Harris’s speech, tens of thousands of people lined up for blocks around the Ellipse.
“We’ve been here since about 3 and since then the last two hours–three hours–it’s just been filled up. It’s amazing. It makes me feel hopeful,” Lena Kennedy from Howard County, Md., said.
Most people decided to take public transportation.
“Everything is so peaceful. We got on the Metro … got off at the Federal Center. We’re here,” said D.C. resident Asiya Bunn.
Even if getting there was easy, there was some confusion among Harris supporters.
“Well no one knew where to go and there didn’t seem to be anybody directing people,” said Micahel McIntire of Arlington, Va.
It caused headaches for drivers trying to get through downtown with blocked roads and traffic.
“What can we say? It has to be, it has to be. So we have to deal with it,” Victor said while trying to drive through the clogged traffic.
Despite the traffic and long lines, Harris supporters said it was worth the wait.
“It reflects what we want to see in the turnout from the Democratic party,” McIntire said.
From the thousands on the Ellipse and thousands more near the Washington Monument, everyone showed up for a similar reason.
“I want to be part of history. I’m here to participate and feel the good vibes, to absorb the good vibes of being down here with like-minded people celebrating hopefully our first female president,” Kennedy said.
