The Change We Need

Today was an exciting day for thousands of people in Philadelphia who were looking forward to the arrival of Senator Barack Obama. "The Change We Need Rally" a four location rally held in Philadelphia which gave you four opportunities to get to see Senator Barack Obama.

The third location on the four rally tour was Vernon Park Rally, located at 5789 Germantown Avenue in the Northwest area of Philadelphia. This is the one in which I attended. Upon my arrival there were already hundreds of people waiting in line. There were people gathering as early as 6:00 a.m. that morning, I arrived around 7:20 a.m. Everybody was full of energy and excitement hoping to get in to see Senator Obama. There was two lines on opposite sides of the entrance gate, one for those individual who were to volunteer for the event and the other for people who just came to the to see Senator.

While in line I met a nice young couple, Lily and Dave, who drove all the way from Long Island, New York just to Senator Obama. There were people of all ages, race, and backgrounds, the physically disabled were in attendance which they had special accommodations. Now while standing in line I listened to several conversations and all of them had one ultimate worry which was not being able to get admitted into the park. Several people admitted that they volunteered to assure their admittance to the park, in hopes of being able to get close enough to the stage to see Senator Obama. I walked around taking pictures of the crowd looking at all the anxious people excited by the days event, hearing them say how this was an historical event that they wanted to take part in and several brought their children to experience it too. Although in many cases this was not a good idea, there were children crying and complaining because they were standing for several hours as Senator Obama did not arrive until 11:25 a.m.

They opened the gates shortly after 9:00 a.m. there was medal detectors that you had to go through to gain entrance, you were not allow to bring in bags or folding chairs. Once inside I must say I became equally excited as the men and women that were around me were talking. There was one gentleman speaking of how he felt the same positive excitement and unity as he did when he attended The Million Man March.

They had a selection of songs performed by the Philadelphia Boys Choir, short speeches given by Representative Dwight Evans, Congressman Chaka Fattah, Mayor Michael Nutter and Governor Edward Rendell.

Before he stepped on stage the crowd roared his name "Obama, Obama, Obama," and then he walked on stage and we all screamed. I must admit the positive energy of his presence moved me. His speech was encouraging, reassuring, confident, and positive and made you believe that you can make a difference and together we can make the changes needed. There was a unity among people that I personally have never experienced nor believe was possible. As we were leaving I listened to young en and women saying how they wished they could go to the next location and how they would have liked going to all his rallies. The rally left you with a feel confidence and hope that we as people together can make change possible.