In D.C., Yalies protest inauguration

George W. Bush, DC '68, was sworn in at noon last Sat., Jan. 20 as the 43rd President of the United States. The day was cold and rainy; many of the dignitaries there to observe wore clear plastic raincoats—hoods up—giving the scene a comical air as the cameras panned the crowd. After he was sworn in, Bush gave a short inaugural address that included references to education, national defense, and tax cuts. The next major event of the day was Bush's trip via motorcade down Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House, the same route that was later taken by the Inaugural Parade. Many of the people lining Pennsylvania Avenue were there to demonstrate as Bush passed by. 

FELIX BENNETT

Irene Garza, SM '02, was protesting both Bush's policies and the election. "I felt there were a lot of problems with this election, the election process not really being in our hands," she said. She and her group had to pass through several police blockades to get to their designated protest area. In addition, Garza said, they were searched at the blockades before being allowed to proceed. "I wanted to give the policemen on duty the benefit of the doubt," Garza said of the process, noting that the police were placed under a lot of pressure. Still, she said, "I was bothered by the police and the sense of how rude and disrespectful they were of people.  They were very ugly to us." She was impressed, however, by the response protesters received from crowds on the street as they made their way to the parade route. "We got a really good reception," she said. 

History lecturer Max Page was along the route protesting as well. "I was there," he said, "because I felt it was absolutely necessary to protest what I felt was an illegitimate president." Carrying a sign in the cold and rain, he joined a mass of protesters that he estimated was in the thousands. On the day of an inauguration, Page said, people start to get "all fuzzy with patriotism," regardless of which candidate they supported. His goal was to make it clear that what happened in Florida was illegal, and if the inauguration couldn't be prevented, he at least wanted to help make sure that the circumstances of the election would not be forgotten.

Howard Clark, BK '01, president of the Yale College Republicans, had a different view of the protests. He attended the inauguration and the events affiliated with it as an escort for Bush's friends and family. He was able to ride the parade route right before the start of the procession and get a view of all the different protesters.  "Almost no one showed up," he said, possibly because of the weather. Those who did, he emphasized, were not all there to protest the same issue. Some were there over the election, some over animal rights, still others for the environment. It was, he said, "a lot of individuals voicing their own opinions." Though there were protests during the day, the main events of the evening were intended for Bush supporters. The night featured eight inaugural balls, all of which Bush visited briefly. Oscar Quinones, BR '03, attended the Texas-Wyoming ball at the Washington Convention Center with a friend who had tickets. Quinones was at the black-tie event "not as a supporter per se," but said, "It was fun to be there. It was cool to see so many people there supporting their candidate." Photos by Felix Bennett.

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