Brooklyn Streets Erupt in Euphoric Celebration

I headed to the streets after Obama’s victory only to find Bedford Avenue in euphoric celebration. Dancing, singing, and embracing all took place in the middle of the streets. Cars and buses detoured around the crowds. Chants of “Yes We Can,” “Obama! Obama!,” “USA!,” and the National Anthem filled the air. What an emotional uplift! Watch it all captured on a hand-held FLIP (video HERE).

7 Responses to “Brooklyn Streets Erupt in Euphoric Celebration”


  1. 1 deirdre Nov 5th, 2008 at 3:46 am

    same report from boston! random parades with music and chants in every neighborhood!

  2. 2 mysticmiss Nov 5th, 2008 at 6:44 am

    Ive never been into politics and I am not american but Last night i stayed up all night glued to the tv. Barack Obama’s message of change and of hope reached across many oceans and miles right into my heart the same way he did the american peoples.

    I am so proud of you America. You were courageous, you were united and you did it. You voted in a man who has the potential to not only change america but to influence change in the entire world.

    I was overwhelmed with pride. I wrote about it on my blog if you are interested. You gained a fan in a country far from you tonight. Thank you America I salute you and I celebrate with you.

  3. 3 Jesse Jenkins Nov 5th, 2008 at 2:05 pm

    Same thing in downtown Oakland last night. It was amazing! Interracial and intergenerational crowd thronged the streets, people leaned out of cars to high five the crowd, and American flags were waved – for the first time in years – without a tinge of cynicism.

    November 4th, 2008: the day America’s Democracy woke up again!

    What an incredible day.

  4. 4 Matt Nov 5th, 2008 at 2:36 pm

    The same thing went down in DC last night…from neighborhood celebrations to a spontaneous gathering of 1000 at the White House.

  5. 5 Alexander M. Tinker Nov 5th, 2008 at 3:42 pm

    Northeast Portland was exploding with joy too! The Obama field office is about 8 blocks from my house, and I could hear the celebration from my porch. As I walked to a friend’s house, I passed dozens of people walking the streets, banging pots and pans and tambourines, whistling at passing cars that honked right back.

    There were even fireworks.

    Better than New Year’s Eve. Hallelujah!

  6. 6 Erin C-B Nov 5th, 2008 at 10:33 pm

    Yep, Berkeley went nuts too! Massive impromptu street parties on campus, on Telegraph Avenue, and on Shattuck by the BART station. And those are just the ones I know about! I easily saw 3-4,000 people out on the streets just on Telegraph and Bancroft.

  7. 7 Angel Nov 6th, 2008 at 11:43 am

    same thing in Ann Arbor Michigan. Hundreds of people were flooding the streets of down town Ann Arbor something drums, and everyone chanting starting at 11:30pm and carrying on until the wee hours of the morning.

    I got this quote from a friends page:
    “Rosa sat so Martin could walk, Martin walked so Barack could run, and Barack is running so our children can FLY!”

    C’MON BARACK KEEP IT GOIN!!!!!!

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About Summer Rayne


Summer Rayne is an entomologist and environmental scientist by training. She's worked on issues ranging from mine reclamation to sewage sludge. In 2000, she slung her hiking boots to her travel pack and embarked on a journey of cause-related modeling to push sustainabilty through fashion and the mainstream media. She travels the world working on sustainable development programs, helping highlight innovative initiatives, consults on sustainable business, and rocks the runways for eco-conscious designers and companies. Keep an eye open for her on Discovery Network's new channel, Planet Green launching this June 2008.

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