The inauguration of Barack Obama may have occurred on the steps of the nation’s Capitol, nearly 40 miles southwest of the Baltimore City line, but for area residents who gathered at the Baltimore Convention Center and the historic Senator Theatre, it didn’t matter.
Bursting into hearty cheers, waving American flags and in some cases breaking into tears, Baltimoreans celebrated the inauguration of America’s 44th president with passion and vigor that brought the magnitude of the historic moment home.
“It’s like the yoke of division has been broken,” said an ebullient Rick Cromwell, 45, an interior decorator who watched the inauguration from two jumbo screens in the convention center.
“Obama talks about unity and bringing people together, and he’s right: Unity will conquer all.”
Roughly 2,000 people packed the downtown convention center to watch the day’s events, including Kerri Steigler, 26, who walked over from her job at University of Maryland Hospital to witness history in the making.
“He hit every subject perfectly,” she said after Obama delivered his inaugural speech. “He brought together George Washington, the Bible, and wove it all together so it all made sense.”
“He hit every subject perfectly,” she said after Obama delivered his inaugural speech. “He brought together George Washington, the Bible, and wove it all together so it all made sense.”
Some observers were overcome with emotion, including city resident Emily Gaffney, who broke down into tears.
“He is just so different from the former president,” said the 29-year-old, who is six months pregnant. “It’s just such a special moment. I’m glad I could see it.”
At the Senator Theatre in North Baltimore, organizers said about 1,000 people crammed into the landmark movie house to watch the inaugural events.
As students from Govans Elementary and Archbishop Curley High schools collected canned goods for CARES, an organization that distributes food to charities throughout the city, attendees said an Obama presidency would usher in a new era.
“It’s like I lost my political virginity,” city resident Quann Massey, 33, said as he waited to enter the theater. “Until this election I had never stood in line for several hours to participate in anything. Now I feel like I’m involved.”
“It means so much to me,” said Spice Kleinmann, 45, as she greeted people with a picture of Obama proclaiming, “It’s the content of his character.”
“I’ve been waiting years for this.”
