Washington's inauguration is normally a ball - now it's a 'ghost town with soldiers'

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January 19, 20215:16 AM Updated 9 minutes ago


Washington's inauguration is normally a ball - now it's a 'ghost town with soldiers'



https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-biden-inauguration-washington/washingtons-inauguration-is-normally-a-ball-now-its-a-ghost-town-with-soldiers-idUSKBN29O186?il=0


By David Lawder, Jonathan Landay

4 Min Read

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Central Washington is an armed fortress, fenced off with razor wire and surrounded by 25,000 National Guard troops ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on Wednesday, a stark contrast to previous inaugurations, when the United States capital erupted in days of celebration.
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The COVID-19 pandemic had already canceled the inaugural balls. Now the National Mall is closed to the public due to threats of violence from groups who attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Almost none of the public will witness firsthand the transition of power, souring the mood of Washingtonians.

“It’s like a ghost town but with soldiers,” said Dana O’Connor, who walked with her husband past concrete barriers near the White House on Sunday. “It’s eerie. It feels super unnatural.”

Previous inaugurations sometimes drew over a million spectators to the National Mall, to watch the ceremony from giant television screens and the new president parading on foot from the Capitol to the White House. Balls and parties in hotel ballrooms and convention halls across the city feted guests with champagne and music from A-list stars.

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