Local groups plan trips to Obama's inauguration

By Matt Garfield - The Herald

From York students to a South Carolina State University alumni chapter, groups across York County are planning trips to Washington, D.C., for the inauguration of Barack Obama on Jan. 20.

The biggest local delegation might be a York/Chester alumni group from S.C. State. More than 50 people have signed up for an overnight trip that will rely on buses, trains and lots of walking to get to the ceremony. The buses belong to June Barnette, a longtime tour bus operator who lives in Rock Hill.

"We didn't even advertise this trip," said chapter president Carl Dicks. "The people who are going, they want to be there so they can tell people 20 years from now that they were there. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

In York, teacher and former County Council member Jane Gilfillan plans to lead a group of 107 people from the York school district, including students in grades 6 through 12. This will be Gilfillan's fifth inauguration trip.

Other locals who plan to attend include Steve Love, president of the western York County branch of the NAACP; party activists Cherie Mabrey, Cindy Epps and John Presto; Oakdale Elementary School teacher Paulette Hallman; former state Rep. Sam Foster and Rock Hill Mayor Doug Echols.

"I've been to the Million Man March, the Jena 6 (demonstration)," Love said. "But this is the top of the list for me, to be able to tell my kids and grandkids I was there.

Democratic U.S. Rep. John Spratt fielded more than 4,500 ticket requests from constituents across the 5th District, which includes York and all or part of 11 other counties. The level of demand dwarfs the 198 tickets given to each House member.

Spratt gave priority to elected officials, public officials and party activists, especially those who worked for Obama's campaign. He also selected a handful of people who mailed him passionate essaid about why they want to attend.

Some crowd estimates have reached as high as 4 million for the inauguration of the nation's first black president -- easily more than the record 1.2 million people who attended Lyndon B. Johnson's inauguration in 1965.

Many people are looking for creative ways to deal with the massive crowds. The S.C. State group will spend the night before the inauguration in Richmond, Va., then take a commuter train into Washington early the next morning.