On Wednesday Jan. 20 local noon time, Joseph R. Biden will take the oath and become the 46th president of the United States.
This Inauguration looks different than any other year, with recent attacks on the US Capitol and the coronavirus pandemic, the swearing in ceremony is set to have higher security measures than any past inauguration.
During a dress rehearsal this Monday, participants were forced to be evacuated by police from the West Front of the Capitol due to an external security threat. U.S. Capitol Police yelled, “This is not a drill,” to be cautious of a fire in a homeless encampment about a mile away from the Capitol.
This presidency is one of the most important in history, and residents of Long Island will be affected as well.
In an article posted by Daily Voice, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran and Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder announced on Tuesday, Jan. 12 that they will be increasing police patrols in specific sites across the area until Biden’s Inauguration next week. Police said they plan for there to be many anti-government protests, which has been seen to be a recurring theme on the island.
Biden’s theme for the event is “America United”. This seems to appropriately fit recent issues happening close to home. In Long Island, Biden took a voting percentage at 51.62% while Trump had a voting percentage of 47%.
Police plan to monitor at least 486 houses of worship, 130 government buildings, 71 fire departments, 59 transportation centers, 56 school districts and 11 hospitals.
For the first time in 100 years, outgoing President Trump has made it clear he does not plan to attend Biden’s Inauguration.
Kamala Harris will also swear in as the first female vice president of the United States and it will be done by none other than the first Hispanic and Latina member of the Supreme Court, Sonia Sotomayor.
You could expect remote musical performances by Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez at the Inauguration, with Gaga singing the national anthem.
Actor Tom Hanks plans to host “Celebrating America” a virtual event with performances by Justin Timberlake, Foo Fighters, John Legend, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Demi Lovato and Ant Clemons.
Amanda Gorman, 22, will be making history as the first youngest Black poet to deliver one of her pieces at the ceremony.
The inauguration will be aired live at 9 a.m. EST on all major broadcasting channels and websites such as ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, CNN, PBS, Telemundo, Univision and MSNBC. You can watch on the official White House website and the Biden Inaugural Committee will be doing a YouTube livestream.
