Author Archives: Andrew Moncada

Thousands unite outside the White House to celebrate bin Laden's death

Washington, D.C. “”mdash; Cab drivers chain-smoking Marlboros called out in thick, deep accents toward sprinting spectators to give free rides to the White House.

A college student scurried up a lightpole and hung a U.S. flag that was instantly greeted by a wild delirium from the masses below.

Car horns erupted. Spontaneous renditions of the Star Spangled Banner broke out. And Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” rang out from a boombox, becoming the night’s theme song.

It was a party. It was patriotism. And somehow it all made sense.

What started with only a small group of tourists turned into a rally of thousands as people gathered Sunday night outside the White House to celebrate the announcement of Osama Bin Laden’s death. President Barack Obama told the Americans in a video address Sunday night that the al Qaeda leader was killed in a CIA operation in Pakistan.

Bin Laden is held responsible for the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Many in attendance were college students from schools including George Mason, Georgetown and George Washington, who decided to hold off on studying for finals to take part in the jubilation.

UCLA students were also in the mix.