President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris were sworn in as president and vice-president on January 20th, 2021. President Biden was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts, and Vice-President Harris was sworn in by Justice Sonia Sotomayor. In Joe Biden’s first speech as President of the United States, he called for national unity and the end of what he deemed an “uncivil war.”
After the insurrection at the Capitol, there were tighter security measures for the inauguration, including 25,000 National Guard soldiers. Washington D.C. was in a lockdown with closed streets and heightened security due to fear of a potential threat after the Insurrection.
The Inauguration, which was much smaller than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was held in a socially distanced fashion. All attendees wore masks that were only taken off when speaking and sat in socially distanced chairs in order to avoid spreading COVID-19. Around 200,000 flags were placed in the National Mall where spectators would usually be able to watch the proceedings.
The inauguration also had musical guests such as Jennifer Lopez and Lady Gaga, who sang the national anthem, and a poetry reading by Amanda Gorman, who became the youngest inaugural poet at the age of 22. The inauguration also had former presidents from both parties in attendance such as Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and George W. Bush. Outgoing President Donald Trump did not attend.
Members of the MFS community, including Ava Parker ’22, watched the inauguration. Parker said, “Sitting watching Joe Biden’s inauguration, I couldn’t help but look back on the last one. I remember watching Trump’s inauguration sitting in middle school lunch. I remember the feeling of fear for what was to come in the next four years. Now, I sit and watch Joe Biden‘s inauguration, and I can’t help but have a feeling of hope for where our country is headed.”
Aani Desai ’22 reacted in a similar manner. “I was very moved. For the past four years I felt like I have been holding my breath waiting for the next major crisis to happen … that we did not have the leadership to actually deal with, and so, it felt like a big sigh of relief watching President Biden and Vice-President Harris get inaugurated today,” said Desai.
This inauguration was also a historic first moment as Kamala Harris was sworn in as Vice President, making her the first female, African-American, and South-East Asian Vice President in the United States’ 243 year history.
Upper School history teacherJackie Scully commented on Harris’s historical inauguration, saying, “January 20, 2021 will forever live in history books since we saw our first Black and South Asian American female sworn into office as Vice President. Regardless of a political stance, this is history!”
Scully watched the inauguration through the special Meeting For Worship event.
“I was so happy to join my colleagues and students in Meeting For Worship today to watch the inauguration. I literally had tears in my eyes watching history in the making, but also to hear the inspirational words of President Biden when he spoke of his dedication to unifying America,” said Scully.
Desai, who is the head of MFS’s Gender Equality Forum and also is of Indian descent, reacted to Vice President Harris making history. “I was ecstatic. Seeing someone who looks like you in office, the second highest office in the United States, is wonderful … I am just really excited to see the change that she and President Biden are going to be able to hopefully make within the next four years,” said Desai.
As the country and the MFS community prepares for the next four years, Desai explained that she perceives this inauguration as “a step in the right direction.”
