Temporary Lockdown of DNC Arena Leaves Attendees, Donors Stranded
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Alex Wong/Getty Images(CHARLOTTE, N.C.) — Talk about pressing the flesh. The Time Warner Cable Arena, which is hosting the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., went on lockdown Wednesday night, with close to 200 people outside the entrance literally pressed up against the glass doors trying to get in.
Fire marshals on the scene said the building was “temporarily” at capacity. The temporary hold momentarily left donors, attendees and media that were not already in the arena stranded, unable to enter the complex or reach the floor.
A fire marshal said the situation was “going to get worse when the president comes.”
Former President Bill Clinton was scheduled to speak at Wednesday night’s event, and President Obama will be in the arena to watch.
The lockdown started just before 9 p.m. But moments later, as the number of unhappy delegates and dignitaries piled up outside, local police opened the doors to let 1,000 more people into the arena, and people streamed in.
However, police then told crowds still locked out that the arena was at capacity, and some delegates — including Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York — and members of crowd appeared to be giving up on their chances of getting in Wednesday night.
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