Donald Trump will take the oath of office on Friday, Jan. 20, when he will officially be handed the title of the 45th president of the United States. As of press time, there have been no announced official viewing events planned at UTEP.
The Inaugural Selection Committee has themed the 58th Presidential Inauguration as “Uniquely American,” as the peaceful transition of power indicates that the people are united behind a resilient republic—an republic that is expected to have between 800,000 to 900,000 present during the swearing-in and inaugural parade.
With the amount of clamor in the nation, the president-elect took to Twitter to remind the public of the success he believes the ceremonies will hold.
“Inauguration Day is turning out to be even bigger than expected. Jan. 20th, Washington DC. Have Fun!” Trump tweeted on Jan. 14.
Despite his claim, events surrounding the president-elect have already caused a number of A-list performers to turn down the invitation to perform during the inauguration, as well as several members of Congress have refused to attend the swearing-in ceremony.
“You cannot feel at home with something that you feel is wrong,” said Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., to NBC News. Stating that he does not believe Donald Trump is a “legitimate president,” Lewis expressed his concerns about Russian interference in the presidential election, and he concluded that he would not be attending the inauguration.
Twenty-five other legislators have stated in news outlets or through Twitter that they will “stand with John” and will deny the president-elect their presence at the ceremony.
Outside of Congress, protests surrounding the ceremony have flared up across the country as well, with groups organizing protests during Inauguration Day and after.
Artists such as Elton John, KISS, Andrea Bocelli, David Foster, Jennifer Holliday and Charlotte Church have publicly rejected the invitation to perform for the president-elect. But Trump’s administration is not concerned about this.
“This is not Woodstock,” said Boris Epshteyn, director of Communications for the Inaugural Committee to CNN. “It’s not a summer jam. It’s not a concert.”
Confirmed to perform at the inauguration are the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Toby Keith, 3 Doors Down, and Lee Greenwood, among others.
Among those who will not be attending the inauguration and will be protesting are artists Katy Perry, Scarlett Johansson, Cher, America Ferrera and Amy Schumer, who will be attending the Women’s March on Washington on Jan. 21.
A group of women slowly formed a plan through Facebook. Teresa Shook, a retired attorney from Hawaii, and Bob Bland, founder of Manufacture New York, came together to expand on a single idea that turned into the Women’s March on Washington, an event that is expecting more than 20,000 people in attendance.
Over 1,200 permits were issued for buses on Jan. 21, compared to the 400 permits issued for Inauguration Day.
“We need to form a resistance movement that’s about what is positive,” Shook told Vogue magazine. “Something that will help empower us to wake up in the morning and feel that women still matter.”
The Women’s March on Washington will have a sister march in El Paso, “Boundless Across Borders,” in El Paso. It will begin at noon, Jan. 21, at Armijo Park.
Protestors and activists are not the only ones who will not attend the inauguration. Charlie Brotman, the inauguration parade announcer since 1957, is also not attending the parade as an announcer any longer.
“I felt like Muhammad Ali had hit me in the stomach,” Brotman told CNN during an interview.
Brotman was recently informed through an email that he would be replaced by Steve Ray as the parade announcer. Steve Ray is a freelance announcer who also volunteered in the Trump campaign during the election.
Regardless of who will be attending the ceremonies, whether by choice or as a form of protest, there is one group who has traveled across the nation to make sure the ceremony is not disrupted.
Bikers for Trump, a biking organization that formed during Trump’s election campaign, have sworn to protect the inauguration from any protestors. With over 20,000 members, the organization is prepared to form a “wall of meat” to keep out any unwanted protestors who want to disrupt the peace.
Whether or not a divisive crowd attends the inauguration, the 58th Presidential Inauguration will be a historical event.