Tonight I went to the “super caucus site” at the Boulder, Colorado, public high school, where something like 15 precincts were scheduled to gather and decide which of the Democratic candidates they would support at the Democratic convention in August. Four years ago roughly 200 people turned out to caucus. Tonight authorities presumed that number would at least double, so they were prepared for roughly 500 neighborhood Boulder Democrats to show up. They opened up the auditorium balconies and spread out five tables in the school lobby to register the crowd. At 7:00 pm, though, an hour after the doors opened, the full auditorium was standing room only, people were crushed into the lobby and lines were streaming out of the open doors down the sidewalks. Police were reportedly redirecting traffic on the street.
“We’re estimating about 2000 people are here tonight to caucus,” said a bearded emcee on the stage, but he was immediately drown out by clapping and foot stomping. “There are more than 2000 people here. It’s really something. It’s really emotional for those of us who have been doing this a while—”
Three Boulder High kids meanwhile were working the auditorium sound-board in the middle of the room, providing a low-level Bob Marley background thrum for the pre-event. I remember when we used to sit / In a government yard in Trenchtown… / No, woman, no cry / No, woman, no cry.
