Cheering crowds with a whole lot of hundreds of individuals packed shoulder-to-shoulder.
Glamorous galas, luncheons, balls and a parade.
Inaugurations are often a jubilant celebration of the peaceable switch of energy on the planet’s oldest democracy.
However not this yr.
Within the wake of the violent and lethal breach of the U.S. Capitol by a pro-Trump mob and the continuing coronavirus pandemic, the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris might be not like another in American historical past.
This is what to know:
Unprecedented safety and pandemic precautions
An unprecedented degree of safety is being marshaled for the 59th swearing-in ceremony as regulation enforcement is on excessive alert for additional potential assaults and unrest.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has requested public officers to discourage spectators from attending the inauguration in an effort to forestall violence through the occasion.
Hundreds of Nationwide Guard troops might be in place across the 7-foot non-scalable fence surrounding the usCapitol, which is topped with razor wire. The Nationwide Parks service may also implement a brief public closure of the Nationwide Mall from Jan.15 via Jan. 21.
“Clearly we’re in uncharted waters,” Bowser mentioned throughout a press convention Wednesday.
No Trump and Harris makes historical past
That’s not to say the truth that for the primary time in additional than 100 years, the outgoing president, Donald Trump, is not going to be attending the inauguration, a transfer that Biden mentioned is “good.”
Trump plans to go away Washington the morning of the inauguration in a “military-like” sendoff from Joint Base Andrews, from which he’ll head to Mar-a-Lago, his residence in Florida.
Outgoing presidents usually greet the incoming president after which trip collectively to the Capitol for the ceremony. Solely three presidents didn’t attend the inauguration of their successor — John Adams, John Quincy Adams and Andrew Johnson.
Vice President Mike Pence, who refused to subvert the outcomes of the election to maintain Trump in energy however took 68 days to name his successor, Kamala Harris, might be there.
Harris is about to make historical past when she is sworn in as the primary girl of shade to be vp.
What to look at and the way
With the intensive safety measures put in place and the necessity to keep away from massive crowds to stem the unfold of the coronavirus, most People will expertise the historic ceremony just about. Right here is how one can watch the inauguration on Jan. 20.
ABC Information will present wall-to-wall protection of Inauguration Day, Wednesday, Jan. 20, beginning at 7 a.m. ET
ABC Information Dwell may also present stay protection starting at 9 a.m. ET. You possibly can stream ABC Information Dwell by way of the ABC Information App, Hulu, Apple TV, Android TV, Fireplace TV and Roku TV.
The Biden campaign and the Presidential inaugural Committee may also livestream Inauguration Day on-line.
Forward of Inauguration Day, there’s a Nationwide Day of Service deliberate on Jan. 18 together with a celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, adopted by a nationwide COVID-19 memorial the following day.
On Jan. 20, the ceremony will characteristic musical performances from Girl Gaga and Jennifer Lopez. Girl Gaga, who labored with Biden on a marketing campaign towards sexual assault when he was vp, will sing the nationwide anthem.
Members of the clergy who’re near the Biden household will ship the invocation benediction and Andrea Corridor, the president of the Worldwide Affiliation of Firefighters, which has lengthy supported Biden, will recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
Following Biden’s inaugural handle, there might be a wreath-laying at Arlington Nationwide Cemetery with different first households. Then there might be a digital parade will air that includes performances from throughout the U.S.
At Eight p.m. EST ABC Information will current, “The Inauguration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr. – An ABC Information Particular,” that can present reporting on the historic moments from the day.
Then, at 8:30 p.m. EST ABC will air “Celebrating America,” the primetime particular beforehand introduced by the Presidential Inaugural Committee, together with performances from Bon Jovi and Demi Lovato amongst others. The occasion might be hosted by Tom Hanks.
