Instead of welcoming Biden to the White House on Wednesday, there were metal barriers, masked security forces and a well-informed Washington Mail party that usually hosted a party on the opening day.
The lockdown meant a contingent of approximately 25,000 National Guard troops, more than the number of detectives, who were told to stay away due to fears of the spread of cowardice and violence beyond US control. Stay
“It looks like the entrance to a military base …” said Joe Brunner, 42, of New York City, as he stood by a checkpoint guarding armed soldiers and military vehicles in central Washington.
In the northern part of the White House, where Biden was due to arrive after his inauguration, a red truck with “God bless America” set up security barriers at highly sensitive locations.
The heavy presence of security zones and police is “immoral from freedom” and “extremely frightening,” said Jason Sheffield, 36. “The atmosphere is very strange, it’s very un-American.”
For most Americans, the opening was seen on social media and TV. The streets were almost empty and there were lots of businesses in Washington DC, some because of the recent brutal protests and some because of epidemics.
In recent years, thousands of people have flocked to the opening ceremony to watch the President take the oath of office in this grand domed Capitol building hosting the Congress.
Crowds have been largely blocked due to fears of virus-related illnesses – usually 200,000 passes are distributed to lawmakers to distribute to their constituencies. This year it was a ticket for each of the 535 members of Congress and for one guest.
In addition, supporters of Donald Trump stormed the Capitol building two weeks ago in an attempt to nullify Biden’s election victory, signaling extra security.
“All security services came together and we must stop moving in Washington DC,” G. Alexander, a research professor at Florida International University and a retired Army colonel, told AFP.
The number of National Guard troops – consisting of thousands of police officers – is about 8,000 at Trump’s inauguration. Outside of an epidemic year, the troops will be guarding crowds on the capital’s squares and thousands will pack about 700 acres (280 hectares) into the national mall.
The 2009 inauguration of the first black president of the United States, Barack Obama, attracted an estimated 450,000 fans to the mall. Yet some people ignored the warnings and roamed the streets less than the car to see what they could do to hand over power to the United States.
“I think today is a happy day,” said Sheila Callahan, a Washington resident. “As soon as Trump’s helicopter took off from the White House, people (in his neighborhood) were cheering on the roof.
Honduran, meanwhile, who was expelled from Guatemala after embarking on a long voyage to the United States, is vowing not to give up pursuing the American dream. Of the thousands returning to the border on Tuesday in buses and trucks provided by Guatemala and Mexico, many told AFP they were not ready to give up their dreams of a better life.
Rosa Bacidano, one of thousands of migrants this week, was evacuated in a convoy that security forces used tear gas and batons in the town of Godimlan in Wadu Hindo, less than 50 kilometers (31 miles) inside the border. Was at a distance
After two violent storms hit Honduras last November, his family lost everything, not even repaired. “I want to try again,” said Bacidano, 35, as he crossed the El Florida border where thousands of immigrants were evacuated on Tuesday.
The group had walked more than 200km since leaving Honduras last Friday. “We don’t want to go back to our country because everything is complicated there. We are starving,” he said.
On Monday, security forces broke up a convoy of 4,000 migrants near Widow Hondo, where they waited for three days, slept outside the gates, and continued on foot thousands of kilometers through Central America. will be. They were blocking a major road, threatening to damage a large cargo truck’s luggage and their luggage.
Saying they are desperate to escape poverty, unemployment, gang and drug violence and last year’s hurricanes, the immigrants welcomed Biden, who was elected president after many years in the United States. And hoping for a better future. Anti-immigrant rhetoric under Donald Trump.
About 9,000 people have left Honduras since last Friday. But they clashed with a police wall in Wadu Hindu. Thousands of Guatemalan security personnel were deployed under strict orders to stop anyone without travel documents or a negative corona virus test.
Twenty-one immigrants tested positive for the virus along the way. Mexico has also tightened its border controls, and Washington has warned refugees in official communications not to “waste their time and money.”
“We need help and support because we don’t want to go back,” Baqidano pleaded, as she waited at the border for a bus to take her to San Pedro Sola, Honduras’ second-largest city, where most immigrants It started. Their journey
“We are not leaving anything behind,” he cried. Bakedano was separated from her husband and three-year-old son in clashes with police and soldiers on Tuesday, injuring several people on both sides.
Traveling with his wife and young son, his compatriot Jose Wassquez said he, too, would return as soon as possible to the journey, which was five days of exhaustion, a little food, and on the ground in the cold. I was sleeping.
In Honduras, he sold peanuts on buses for employment. “I will find some money to try again. We have nothing in Honduras so we are pursuing the American dream because we want to raise ourselves and our families,” Wask told AFP. Want to help
In a related development, Lady Gaga inaugurated Joe Biden’s opening ceremony with a classical presentation of the American national anthem, a balling gown and a number of pigeon brooches.
The long-sleeved gown, reportedly Sheparielli, has a fitted navy drop waist body with a falling muck neck collar, complete with a heavy red skirt that ensures that It has maintained its code friendly distance.
Gaga tweeted before her performance, “I intend to acknowledge our past, fix our situation, and look forward to a future where we can work together with love. Sing to the hearts of those who live on this land, “Gaga tweeted before her performance.
After starring in “Star Spangled Banner”, Jennifer Lopez took the opportunity to perform Woody Guthrie’s classic “This Land Is Your Land”, which is said to be more about folklore with a socialist leaning. Bless the United States “Nationalist wrote in response to God.” “
Carrying the Bronx with Puerto Rican roots, Lopez graduated with “America the Beautiful”, adding in a Spanish line: “Sampri con libertadie justisia para todos” (“Liberty and justice forever”). )۔
About the sport of pairing white pants with a lace ruffle collar, the channel reportedly, Lopez also shouted, “Come on! During her performance, her turn marked the millennial signature, which was shared on social media.” Makes you happy
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