Inauguration Security Gets a Second Hard Look
Things will be different on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20. They better be considering the riotous events on Jan. 6, when protestors rushed the Capitol and broke into congressional chambers.
President-elect Joe Biden has been duly elected the next president of the United States and will be sworn in as such. However his inaugural planning team, which was challenged already, thanks to a global pandemic and civil unrest thanks to Donald Trump, security ramped up even more.
Biden said after the attack on the Capitol, that this was “an assault on our democracy.” Safety and security plans are getting a reassessment, though a complete overhaul will not be necessary.
“The great American tradition of an inaugural ceremony has occurred in times of peace, in times of turmoil, in times of prosperity, and in times of adversity,” Sens. Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), of the committee, said in reaffirming their commitment to the ceremony on the West Front of the Capitol.
Staffmembers working on the Inauguration have said the maintaining public safety and any angry and violent protestors away from the area. Biden also expressed confidence that events would be safe and secure. “The American people are going to stand up. Enough is enough is enough,” he said.
Security staff have been preparing for months in anticipation of this event, and because of recent activity, Capitol Police are likely to be replaced with thousands of other law enforcement officials. An inauguration most often includes several federal agencies coordinating efforts to establish security perimeters, and focus on terrorist threats and crisis management.
If anything, Wednesday’s events may have helped planners to understand where security must be placed, and the need for additional law enforcement on station prior to the swearing-in ceremony. Already in place is a seven-foot-tall fence around the Capitol, which will remain in place for at least a month.
Key Republicans will be present at this event, and have already pledged to attend. Also attending will be former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura. Vice President Mike Pence is expected to attend as well.