Norwalk residents express relief over peaceful transition
“My position is and always has been, we now have a new president and we must support him and we must hope for his success because the success of our president is the success of our country.”
Mayor Harry Rilling
NORWALK — Under normal circumstances, Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling would have been in Washington, D.C., Wednesday for the presidential inauguration.
Instead, Rilling and his wife, Lucia, attended the event virtually from the comfort of their home on a Zoom call with his constituents hosted by the state Democratic Party.
“Between the pandemic and the potential for other disruptions, like we had two weeks ago, there’s a limit to the number of people that can attend,” Rilling said of the inauguration. “It’s warmer here than it would be watching outside in D.C., but there’s nothing like being present at an historical event and watching it live.”
There were no large parties or gatherings to watch the inauguration of President Joe Biden, to which Rilling or his staffers were alerted. No marches, protests or demonstrations occurred in Norwalk either on Wednesday, and the schools and city operations were conducted as usual, communications manager Josh Morgan said.
The city had been in contact with state and federal authorities in case protest or violence concerns arose. Nevertheless, extra police officers were stationed outside City Hall, Rilling said.
“There are people that are absolutely thrilled about today and there are people who are not so happy because they are supporters of the outgoing president,” Rilling said. “My position is and always has been, we now have a new president and we must support him and we must hope for his success because the success of our president is the success of our country.”
Norwalk resident Jessie McGarty,
56, also celebrated the inauguration of the United States’ 46th president from home, texting her friends and crying over the ceremony, she said.
Originally from New York, McGarty has lived in Norwalk for 24 years. A performer and singer, she was unable to work in her field when the coronavirus pandemic broke out and has since began working parttime at a senior residential center, she said.
“Norwalk is not unlike our entire country where it is divided, and unfortunately the last four years have brought out a lot of ugliness to the surface,” McGarty said. “I’m hoping going forward we can be a more united country even when there are differences and find a dignified, peaceful way to discuss them and come to a resolution that will move us forward.”
McGarty added she is grateful for the new administration and hopeful for the future.
“It’s been a really scary time and I’m thrilled to have dedicated civil servants who will be gearing our country in the right direction,” she said.
Writer and editor Jennifer Howland, 65, who had feared violence at Biden’s inauguration following events at the Capitol, expressed relief at the peaceful ceremony.
“I was terrified. I kept saying please just let him be inaugurated. I had no idea what was going to happen,” she said. “Thank God (former Vice President Mike) Pence was there because he was the thread of continuity between the two administrations, and he did the right thing on Jan. 6.”