After the Election Ed Lesson Three — Pre Inauguration Preparation and Events

Written by Rachele Terranova, Graphics by Nadia Nugent

Inauguration

In a normal year, a Presidential inauguration enters its preparation stage many months before with thousands of workers coming together to pull the ceremony off. With the 59th Presidential inaguration on Wednesday, preparations are being made in a different way this year — to ensure a safe and secure event following the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6 and COVID-19. Though the proceedings will be very different this time around, the Inauguration will still include important events to honor and remember those who are not with us.

Preparations

The Pentagon has authorized 25,000 National Guard members for the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. There have already been thousands of Guardsmen sent to D.C. following the deadly attack on the Capitol. In addition, the FBI was made aware of planned “armed protests” in all 50 states and capitals leading up to the swearing in ceremony. On Monday, FBI intelligence reported that QAnon members discussed posing as National Guardsmen in Washington to infiltrate the security efforts and thus the inauguration. Surveillance is high though, and federal authorities are monitoring any and all suspicious activity related to the event to the highest degree.

There are usually around 200,000 available tickets for the official ceremony, but in light of the surge in COVID-19 deaths and infections, there are only 1,000.

Swearing In

Once Harris recites the oath of office of Vice President followed by Biden’s recitation of the Presidential oath of office -I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States – the new administration will move into the White House and the 46th President will get to work.

It is a tradition that the outgoing President is present to witness the transfer of power onto the next, but this year we won’t see this. Before his Twitter account was removed, Donald Trump tweeted on Jan. 8 that he will not be present at the event. The only three other Presidents who have done this were over a century and a half ago including John Adams, John Quincy Adams and Andrew Johnson. Instead, there are about 68,000 of his supporters planning via Facebook to attend a virtual “second inauguration” at the same time as Biden’s inaugural event.

Events

Two events are happening this year as part of the inaugural proceedings that are specific to this election. First, there will be a memorial to remember victims of the COVID-19. The event will honor the lives lost to the illness, more than 400,000 in the U.S. The memorial is set for the evening before the President-elect and Vice President-elect take the oath of office. In a “national moment of unity and remembrance,” the Presidential Inaugural Committee is calling on cities to join in by ringing their church bells. There will also be a “field of flags” including more than 191,000 flags and 56 light pillars to represent the U.S. states and territories installed in a public art display on the National Mall. Landmarks around the country will also display special lighting, including the Empire State Building.

The second event is a string of speakers led by Harris that will honor the culture and contribution of Black Americans and Americans of color. The event called, We Are One, will highlight the important moment in our history that is the election of the first Black and South Asian woman to be Vice President.

In this year’s historic election, it was minority groups, specifically Black voters, and organizers who turned out to help deliver the election for Biden and Harris. Some featured speakers include Rep. Cedric Richmond; Congressional Black Caucus Chair Rep. Joyce Beatty; House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn; Sen. Cory Booker; newly-elected Georgia senator Rev. Raphael Warnock; and Stacey Abrams, who was instrumental in her efforts to register voters to help Georgia go blue.

With Harris being the first graduate of an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, the first intercollegiate historically African American Greek-lettered sorority, there will also be an honoring of HBCUs and Black fraternities and sororities. The International President and CEO of Alpha Kappa Alpha Glenda Glover and Howard University President Wayne Frederick will both participate in speeches. Black activists and celebrities alike will make appearances and perform along with bands from several HBCUs.