DC marching bands want no part in Trump's inauguration
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A marching band walks down Pennsylvania Avenue during the inaugural parade after U.S. President Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th U.S. President in Washington January 20, 2009. REUTERS/Carlos Barria (UNITED STATES) - RTR23NYV
For the first time in 20 years, no Washington, DC, marching band will perform in the presidential inauguration.
The bands that have performed at the last five inaugural parades — plus all other local groups — have not applied to participate in President-elect Donald Trump’s swearing-in ceremony, NBC 4 Washington reports.
“I think everybody knows why and no one wants to say and lose their job,” Howard University band director John Newson, whose band marched for President Obama’s swearing-in ceremony in 2009, told the local news affiliate.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Newson, of course, was referring to political beliefs — a suggestion that the locals aren’t interested in celebrating Trump becoming president of the United States.