As we get closer to Inauguration Day 2017, Washington D.C. is preparing itself the the best way possible for the grand event. The west front entrance of the U.S. Capitol building is undergoing some slight construction to satisfy the taste of this country's future president and his thousands of supporters on the big day. Shortly after the election, Trump's team hinted at the ceremony being something grandiose, but they are now singing a new tune.
Thomas Barrack Jr., a private equity investor and leader of Trump's presidential inaugural committee, dismissed the rumors during an interview with The New York Times.
"The president-elect wants this to be simple," Barrack said, "He wants this to be about the people."
Well the people have spoken, and it seems like they want no parts of Trump's celebratory weekend, specifically the local marching bands.
According to NBC Washington, at least one D.C. public school marching band has participated in the past five inaugural parades, but none applied for consideration this year. Schools such as Ballou High School's Majestic Marching Knights who performed in both George W. Bush's and Barack Obama's second inaugural parades decided to take a break this year after other recent performances.
Photo: District Chronicles
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School's band, who marched in Barack Obama's first inauguration in 2009, will not be performing this year due to rebuilding of the band. Eastern Senior High School's marching band, the Blue and White Marching Machine, has marched in three presidential inaugurations but chose not to participate this year without elaborating.
A local D.C. district woman was "surprised" to find out that many high school bands did not apply to perform during the parade, especially since it's a huge deal to march on the national stage.
But D.C. is not alone in this matter.
School bands in the surrounding counties such as Arlington County, Fairfax County, Montgomery County and Prince George's County bands opted not to participate as well. Local universities also chose not to apply. University of Maryland, College Park, which played in 2013, did not apply. Neither did Bowie State University or University of the District of Columbia.
The band at D.C.'s Howard University, which marched in Obama's first inaugural parade, chose not to apply to march in Trump's parade. John Newson, band director, said the band had too few members was facing budgetary constraints. He suspects that many band directors' and school administrators' political beliefs played into whether they applied to participate in the parade.
"I think everybody knows why and no one wants to say and lose their job." Newson added.
Photo: Kevin Cole/Flickr
For those that weren't watching the numbers come in election night, it comes as no surprise that the D.C. area is not that welcoming about Trump's presidency. Majority of votes in the D.C. area cast their ballot for Hillary Clinton, with Trump winning 4 percent in D.C, 8 percent in Prince George's County, 17 percent in Arlington County and 29 percent in Fairfax County. Many high school students participated in anti-Trump protests in the wake of the election.
The application to participate in the parade was initially November 28 but was extended to December 5 to allow groups more time to apply.
"We didn't get the response that we got the last time, with Obama. Some groups responded, but with some groups it was crickets," Music Celebrations International marketing director Luke Wiscombe said. "We're seeing a little less enthusiasm to be a part of this event."
The Lesbian and Gay Band Association, which included the D.C. group Different Drummers, also opted to skip Trump's inaugural parade. The association played in Obama's second inaugural parade but did not to apply this year because of political and safety concerns.
"While the parade route itself should be a safe zone, we cannot hope to guarantee our safety while traveling, while rehearsing in public or while out and about in the D.C. area during the weekend," the band's board of directors said in a statement. "All minorities are at risk and any opportunity we give the new administration to co-opt a minority organization will likely be exploited to our detriment."
All these bands choosing not to participate the same year could be a silent protest or a huge coincidence, either way, the people have spoken.
Photo: Giphy
