Why were the plexiglass walls on stage at Grant Park?

November 6, 2008 9:45 AM

Can anyone tell me about the giant (plexi?)glass walls that were on stage during Obama's rally in Grant Park?

Initially, I assumed they were sound barriers, similar to the plexiglass shields you often see around drum kits for live performances that prevent noise from the drums from overwhelming the vocal mics in front...

Perhaps I'm a naive Canadian for not initially assuming the walls to be bulletproof glass?

posted by kaudio to technology (23 comments total)

Well, the sort of microphone they used would definitely reject off-axis sound from the crowd in favor of the voice speaking directly into it, so sound barriers are not often necessary. Drummers tend to play behind the singer so the sound is coming from the same direction as the voice.

With that in mind: new president? open space? history in the making?

Here is an article about the security measures taken that night: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1083444/Bulletproof-glass-shields-Obama-victory-speech-security-stepped-President-elect.html
posted by jon_kill at 9:52 AM on November 6, 2008 [2 favorites]

From that article: Apparently the front wasn't a worry due to the TV camera stand, which is why the shielding was only on either side.
posted by Tomorrowful at 9:58 AM on November 6, 2008

I, for one, was absolutely thrilled that they decided to place the bulletproof glass on the sides of the stage. Grant Park is enormous, but what's worse is that his exposure from buildings and from a distance was just too great. They couldn't possibly accurately check all 100,000-500,000 attendees for weapons. They *could* check the 2,000 or so that got up front.

They also attempted to secure the skyscrapers surrounding him, and the glass made the most sense--it appeared capable of stopping the bullet of a high-powered rifle, which is exactly what someone would use from a distance, which is exactly how someone determined would do it.

I've been worried something might happen to him for months now. His exposure at rallies was just a bit too much for my taste. He's not going to be attending nearly as many public events now, but the Pope rides behind bulletproof glass, and he's got God on his side, so I'm perfectly okay if my president has a bit of help.

This was a smart and necessary decision. We didn't need a Robert Kennedy situation, but worse, and secret service did just what they needed to do. It's going to be a challenge for them, but they're diligent and this represents a considerably different challenge than past protectees.
posted by disillusioned at 9:59 AM on November 6, 2008 [3 favorites]

In related news they have stepped up security around his Hyde Park home in Chicago, closing his street and limiting access. The Secret Service is also concerned about the apartment buildings that are across the street from his house.
posted by ericb at 10:13 AM on November 6, 2008

From jon_kill's Daily Mail article:

"Fears that he will be targeted by white supremacists has led to his Secret Service detail to double in size overnight.

From 12 agents - the number usually assigned to a vice president - he will have a full complement of 30 agents to provide round the clock protection.

While race hate groups are thought to pose the most risk there are a number of organisations and individuals who pose a threat from within the US.

He will also face threats from Al Qaeda and other Islamic extremists who hate America.

...The Secret Service have looked into at least 500 assassination threats against Obama. While the majority were dismissed at least a dozen have been investigated."

posted by ericb at 10:18 AM on November 6, 2008

I don't think it will be more of a challenge for them. They've got the job down. I'd take away their Blackberrys if I was Obama though. I saw SS agents intently checking email and looking bored when I got a chance to be up close to the President-Elect shortly after he initially got protection. I'm pretty sure they've stepped up diligence since then. (To be fair, this was in an already secured area, and Obama was in a meeting in a closed room, so it's not like they had anything better to be doing, it just looked a bit lax to my untrained eye).

I have faith in these guys.

Neat question, I didn't even notice the glass.

Cool thing about something like this is you only need to block trajectory paths, not incase Obama in glass.
posted by cjorgensen at 10:19 AM on November 6, 2008

I didn't even notice the glass...Cool thing about something like this is you only need to block trajectory paths, not incase Obama in glass.

"The clear protective screens he was sandwiched between at Grant Park in Chicago were the fist visible sign of the fears he will be the target of an assassination attempt.

The bulletproof glass was not visible to the millions of people worldwide watching his speech on TV.

...Hours before Obama stepped on stage Secret Service agents had posed as the Democratic presidential candidate to 'test' his exposure to an assassin's bullet.

A red laser dot was 'fired' on to the chest of the agents from others posing as sniper's in the skyscrapers overlooking the park.

...After the test was carried out it was decided to install the 10 feet high and 15 feet long screens. A marquee housing the TV cameras meant he was not at risk from the front of the park."

posted by ericb at 10:26 AM on November 6, 2008

The bulletproof glass was not visible to the millions of people worldwide watching his speech on TV.

Yeah it was.
posted by cashman at 10:34 AM on November 6, 2008 [5 favorites]

About not noticing the security . . .

During the 1996 presidential campaign, Bill Clinton came through my hometown on a 'whistle stop tour' style train ride. He was standing at the back of the train, waving and smiling and talking to the crowd with a microphone & PA, and I happily snapped picture after picture.

It wasn't until I was back in the dark room developing my shots that I noticed a Secret Service agent was crouching behind him and holding up a bullet-proof panel in front of the president's chest.
posted by OilPull at 10:38 AM on November 6, 2008 [1 favorite]

Obama has had SS protection since very early on, much earlier than any other presidential candidate, specifically because of his race.

I am a bit afraid for him and I predict there will be at least one serious attempt on his life in the first year (most likely it will be put down before any shots are taken). But the SS know what they're doing, and I have to assume that they have reviewed every single procedure in light of Obama's unique status.
posted by crickets at 10:43 AM on November 6, 2008

I'd take away their Blackberrys if I was Obama though. I saw SS agents intently checking email and looking bored when I got a chance to be up close to the President-Elect shortly after he initially got protection.

Is it possible they were checking security-related documents? I'm sure they get most updates by radio, but perhaps the blackberry's are strictly controlled and only for official business. They could be helpful in giving more details when a voice over a radio doesn't cut it. If that is the case, from what you said, they'd still need to tighten up their game, as blackberry's are still really neat, even if they are for official business only.

Just a thought. If they are indeed being used for personal communications though, they definitely should go.
posted by gauchodaspampas at 10:44 AM on November 6, 2008

One of the kids on my son's Little League team's father is a Secret Service agent. Used to sit the in the stands in the sweltering heat with his suit coat draped over his Glock so as not to freak out the little kids.

After years in DC with W, he had asked for a transfer to something less demanding so he could spend more time at home with his family instead of on Air Force One. So they sent him to off to Chicago to head up a detail for some guy named Obama. I'm guessing he isn't seeing a lot of his family these days.
posted by timsteil at 10:53 AM on November 6, 2008 [11 favorites]

I saw the screens on television and had to point them out to my girlfriend. They weren't blatantly obvious but they were visible.
posted by JJ86 at 10:59 AM on November 6, 2008

Another story outlining the bulletproof glass and security measures. I'm glad to see the Secret Service is taking his safety seriously.
posted by crapmatic at 11:28 AM on November 6, 2008

It was definitely visible. At first I thought it might have been sound or teleprompter related but soon after it was very clear that it was bulletproof glass.
posted by mmascolino at 11:53 AM on November 6, 2008

I saw the screens on television and had to point them out to my girlfriend. They weren't blatantly obvious but they were visible.

I did the same with my wife. She told me I was nuts.
posted by Pollomacho at 12:08 PM on November 6, 2008

When Obama was campaigning, he came through little old Muncie. That morning, before making his scheduled appearance at Ball State, he went to my local YMCA for a morning exercise. It was just him and two SS agents. Two. And they did nothing to clear the building or exercise room. He just came in and did his exercise routine alongside everyone else.

I'm guessing that the visit to the Y was unplanned accounted for the relatively lax security. They allowed people to approach him and he gladly shook a few hands. I'm proud to say that he was, for the most part, left alone to get his exercise in.

A good friend of mine now has a very cherished cell-phone pic of her posing with Obama when he took her up on her offer to come upstairs and say 'hi' to the ladies in her spinning class.
posted by Thorzdad at 12:11 PM on November 6, 2008

I was more nervous watching him after the speech. After everyone had hugged in front of the crowds he and Michelle stood for what seemed like an age at the back of the stage in front of the curtains where, as far as I could tell, there were no protective screens. He needs to learn not to do that. If only for the sake of my worrying.
posted by NailsTheCat at 12:57 PM on November 6, 2008 [1 favorite]

Don't assume that the SS didn't check the building out in advance. The whole point of the SS is that you're not going to notice it. I GUARANTEE that there was protection there.
posted by micawber at 2:09 PM on November 6, 2008

I GUARANTEE that there was protection there

I know for a fact that as the the cameras panned across the jubilant crowd in Grant Park, some of those folks who looked like your garden variety stoners/college students/layabouts were actually on duty, and packing enough firepower to put down a third world country.

I truly hate to even think about it, and I won't say it out loud, but given the mindset of a certain sad demographic of our country, there really IS a reason the President-Elect is going to need a little extra watching over.

I'm not much of a religious man, but I have already prayed for his safety. And that is something comiing from me.
posted by timsteil at 3:22 PM on November 6, 2008

It was just him and two SS agents. Two.

That you saw. Funny, USSS (better abbreviation IMO) agents are generally fit men who wouldn't be out of place in a gym.

I saw SS agents intently checking email and looking bored

I don't want to endow the Secret Service with extraordinary attributes, but actually, I wouldn't at all assume that they were distracted or, in fact, bored. I would also not automatically assume that a suited man with an earpiece near a President or candidate was, in fact, Secret Service.
posted by dhartung at 11:19 PM on November 6, 2008

The glass panes were pretty obvious whenever they did a pullback shot of Obama for the most part. I assumed they were preventive measures for the reasons stated above.
posted by Atreides at 6:02 AM on November 7, 2008

Oops. Gulp.

Obama's Secret Service Agents Draw Weapons After Couple Try To Pass Motorcade.
posted by ericb at 8:27 AM on November 7, 2008