A few dozen people gathered at Black Lives Matter Plaza on Wednesday to watch as Joe Biden became the 46th president of the United States. They huddled in groups of threes and fours to watch the moment, not on a big screen but on their smartphones. For many, it was important to be out in public and in proximity to the event.
“It’s one thing looking at it on TV and being actually in the presence of this historical moment. You can actually feel the change in everybody’s attitude. You can feel the change in the atmosphere,” said Dyamond Douglas.
Ms Douglas, 22, and her mother Felicia Douglas Littejohn had flown to Washington from Greenville, South Carolina.
The two made the same trip 12 years ago for former president Barack Obama’s first inauguration.
“We wanted to keep the trend going and be here for the first inauguration of our sister, my sorority sister, Kamala Harris,” said Felicia Douglas Littlejohn, who like Vice President Kamala Harris is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.
-
US President Joe Biden speaks during the 59th Presidential inauguration in Washington. Reuters -
President Joe Biden signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House. Reuters -
President Joe Biden swears in presidential appointees in a virtual ceremony in the State Dining Room of the White House. Reuters -
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden wave as they arrive at the North Portico of the White House. AP Photo -
President Joe Biden and his wife Jill embrace as they arrive to the White House. Reuters -
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden walk up the stairs as they arrive at the North Portico of the White House. AP Photo -
President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden and family, walk in front of the White House. AP Photo -
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris participate in a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. AP Photo -
Former President Bill Clinton with his wife, former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, former President George W. Bush with his wife Laura Bush, and former president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama at the Arlington National Cemetery. Reuters -
US President Joe Biden, first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and her husband Doug Emhoff look on as they leave the US Capitol after the inauguration ceremony. Reuters -
US President Joe Biden signs documents in the President's Room at the US Capitol following the inauguration ceremony. Bloomberg -
Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff, wave from the Capitol steps as former Vice President Mike Pence's motorcade departs. AP Photo -
US President Joe Biden speaks during the 59th Presidential inauguration in Washington. Reuters -
US President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States during the 59th presidential inauguration in Washington. Bloomberg -
Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th President of the United States as his spouse Jill Biden holds a bible on the West Front of the Capitol in Washington, DC. Reuters -
Kamala Harris is sworn in as vice president by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor as her husband Doug Emhoff holds the Bible during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the US Capitol in Washington, DC. AP -
Social distancing audience during the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States. Reuters -
Lady Gaga sings the National Anthem at the inauguration of US President-elect Joe Biden. AFP -
Lady Gaga sings the National Anthem as US Vice President Mike Pence and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris look on. Reuters -
From left: Doug Emhoff, US Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, incoming US First Lady Jill Biden, US President-elect Joe Biden arrive for the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th US President at the US Capitol in Washington, DC. AFP -
Former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle arrive for the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the US Capitol for President-elect Joe Biden. AP Photo -
Former US President Bill Clinton arrives with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to the inauguration of US President-elect Joe Biden on the West Front of the US Capitol. AFP -
Former US President George W. Bush and his wife Laura Bush arrive for the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States on the West Front of the US Capitol. Reuters -
Family members of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris attend the inauguration of US President-elect Joe Biden on the West Front of the US Capitol. AFP -
The view from the podium where Joe Biden will speak after being sworn-in during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the US Capitol in Washington, DC. EPA -
Flags decorate the "Field of Flags" at the National Mall near the Washington Monument ahead of the inauguration of US President-elect Joe Biden. AFP -
President-elect Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden attend a church service before his presidential inauguration at St Matthews Catholic Church in Washington. Reuters -
President-elect Joe Biden, his wife Jill Biden, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff attend a church service before his presidential inauguration at St. Matthews Catholic Church. Reuters -
The West Front of the US Capitol is prepared for the inauguration of US President-elect Joe Biden in Washington, DC. AFP -
US singer Lady Gaga arrives for the inauguration of Joe Biden as US President in Washington, DC. EPA -
Supporters hold American flags as Air Force One, carrying US President Donald Trump, departs during a farewell ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Bloomberg -
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump wave to a crowd as they board Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base. AP Photo -
President Donald Trump speaks to crowd before boarding Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base. AP Photo -
The sun rises behind the US Capitol as preparations are made prior to the 59th inaugural ceremony for President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on the West Front of the US Capitol in Washington. AFP
For the younger Ms Douglas, who is interested in a possible political career, seeing a woman of colour ascend to the second-highest office in the country means everything.
“It’s a really uplifting moment because I have someone in office that looks like me and that stands for what I believe in as well as the majority of the people who support her as well. It gives me the representation and the drive to potentially run for office in the future and just being a change agent in this country,” she said.
Wednesday’s inauguration was unlike any other in US history. Tens of thousands of National Guard troops patrolled the streets of Washington or manned checkpoints. Heavy assault rifles dangled from their necks as they prevented traffic from getting anywhere close to the US Capitol building, the National Mall and the White House.
The troops were there to ensure the events of January 6, when supporters of former president Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol building, were not repeated. With public events around the inauguration cancelled, an eerie quiet descended on the city, which is heavily liberal and voted 90 per cent for Mr Biden.
In Shaw, a neighbourhood north of Capitol Hill, residents banged pots and pans to ring in the new presidency. Neighbours exchanged cheers and one woman, dressed for the occasion in a sparkling burgundy dress, popped a bottle of champagne in the street.
Many of the people who chose to watch the ceremony in public felt a sense of deep relief that Mr Trump’s time in office had come to an end.
“We’re here to celebrate the new beginning and the beginning of the end,” said Vianney Mendoza.
Ms Mendoza, 63, who lives in Southern California, had flown with her two sisters aged 78 and 72 as well as her daughter, son and nieces to be in Washington for the day.
“We’re here to celebrate for everyone, for all my family. We’ve been affected by Covid, we’ve been affected by unemployment and with this new administration, we’re very hopeful it will be better,” Ms Mendoza said.
This was a sentiment shared by many in Black Lives Matter Plaza.
