Quick fact: Beck guest host Gray baselessly claims there were “700,000 to a million” participants in 9-12 rally in DC

Written by Matt McLaughlin

Published

While guest hosting Glenn Beck's nationally syndicated radio show, Pat Gray claimed that “700,000 to a million” participated in the 9-12 March on Washington. Gray's baseless claim echoed numerous conservative media figures, but a D.C. Fire Department official estimated 9-12 March crowds at 60,000 to 75,000 people.

Gray claims that “700,000 to a million -- nobody really knows, but it was probably at least 700,000 people on the mall on 9-12.”

From the November 10 edition of Premiere Radio Networks' The Glenn Beck Program:

GRAY: Since we've been off with this appendix situation since last - I guess last Thursday - a lot has happened since then, including Nancy Pelosi the House version of the health care bill on Saturday night. When does that ever happen on a major bill like that? Despite the fact that 700,000 to a million - nobody really knows, but it was probably at least 700,000 people on the mall on 9-12. Despite those people all being opposed, despite 5- or 10,000 showing up last Thursday on a weekday at noon, a weekday, non-holiday, just an average workday for Americans, that many people drove from all over the country to show up and express their displeasure with this bill.

Fact: D.C. Fire Department official estimated 9-12 March crowds at 60,000 to 75,000 people

Gray's remarks echo other media conservatives, including Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Michelle Malkin and Fox & Friends co-hosts Steve Doocy and Gretchen Carlson, who cited participant numbers in the tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, and millions. In fact, a D.C. Fire Department official estimated 9-12 March crowds at 60,000 to 75,000 people.