SECURITY, PROTESTS TO MARK TRUMP SWEARING-IN FESTIVITIES
The nation’s capital is preparing to take center stage with hundreds of thousands of -spectators expected to watch President-Donald Trump’s swearing-in, as throngs of protesters demonstrate in the streets amid a beefedup security presence.
Meanwhile, a growing number of Democrats plan to skip the traditional peaceful transfer of power altogether. U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) — who is battling Labor Secretary Tom Perez to become the next chairman of the Democratic National Committee — became the latest notable liberal lawmaker to announce a decision to boycott the inauguration.
“The time is always right to do what is right,” Ellison tweeted yesterday. “And in the face of so much hate, the right thing to do is reject it. No question I am # Standing with John Lewis and the millions of people around the country who have been targeted by @realDonaldTrump. I will not celebrate a man who preaches a politics of division and hate.”
A few dozen Democrats have decided not to attend the inauguration, including Bay State Rep. Katherine Clark. Civil rights leader and Georgia Rep. John Lewis announced last week he, too, won’t attend and even declared that in his view Trump is not a “legitimate president.”
But Trump fired back on Twitter, accusing the left of misplacing their fury.
“The Democrats are most angry that so many Obama Democrats voted for me,” Trump tweeted Sunday. “With all of the jobs I am bringing back to our Nation, that number will only get higher. Car companies and others, if they want to do business in our country, have to start making things here again. WIN!”
Many Democrats will instead take part in the Women’s March on Saturday, the day after Trump’s inauguration. As many as 200,000
people are expected.
Trump’s swearing-in is expected to draw as many as 900,000 people on Friday, which would be less than half the crowd for President Obama’s first inauguration in 2009 and on par with his second term in 2013.
“We know of no specific credible threat directed toward the inauguration,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson. “However, that is only part of the story.”
Nearly 100 different organizations — both supporting and opposing Trump’s presidency — are expected to protest this week.
Some 28,000 security personnel will attempt to keep Washington, D.C., orderly, Johnson said.
Officials are also guarding against possible terrorist attacks involving large vehicles as weapons, like the ones in Nice, France, and Berlin, Germany.
An anti-Trump group reportedly plans to disrupt one of the inaugural balls by deploying stink bombs and setting off sprinklers, according to an undercover video released yesterday by the group Project Veritas.
The protesters were allegedly targeting The Deplora Ball, an event honoring grass-roots Trump campaign activists.
Meanwhile, Trump himself promises the inauguration will be a spectacular event. His team is even selling “TRUMP” inauguration license plates with his “Make America Great Again” slogan for $50.
Though many A-listers are refusing to perform at the Trump inaugural because they disagree with his politics, the current lineup throughout the week includes Toby Keith, Lee Greenwood, 3 Doors Down, Jackie Evancho of “America’s Got Talent,” the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Radio City Rockettes.
But the B-Street Band — a Bruce Springsteen cover band — announced it is pulling out of performing at New Jersey’s inaugural gala in Washington, D.C., amid backlash from the anti-Trump crowd.