Photos show what DC looks like a day before Biden's inauguration

Alan Chin, Andrew Lichtenstein, Bre'anna Grant
Biden Harris Inauguration
Workers put up "Biden-Harris" branded bunting on a press riser along the inaugural parade route near the White House on January 14, 2021 in Washington, DC. Thousands of National Guard troops have been activated to protect the nation's capital against threats surrounding President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration and to prevent a repeat of last weeks deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Inauguration Day 2021 is unlike those in the past.

President-elect Joe Biden and VP-elect Kamala Harris will be sworn in amid a coronavirus pandemic that has claimed more than 400,000 lives in the US as of Tuesday and just two weeks after the deadly breach of the US Capitol.

Last week, Harris said that she and Biden would not "yield to those who would try and make us afraid of who we are," in response to soon being sworn into office outside of the US Capitol.

"We cannot abandon the appreciation that we should all have for the traditions that are symbolic of our commitment to our democracy," she told NPR.

Biden also said he was not afraid to take the oath in the traditional outdoor ceremony at the Capitol building despite security concerns throughout the country.

Since the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has urged Americans to stay home and out of DC during the inauguration. In their place, 200,000 American flags have been set up at National Mall for the ceremony.

Here are photos that show what DC looks like a day before Biden and Harris are sworn into office.

National guardsmen on the outer perimeter along Massachusetts Avenue, NW.

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Andrew Lichtenstein

The armed and deadly insurrection at the US Capitol on January 6 has prompted increased security measures, including the deployment of more than 20,000 members of the National Guard to DC.

Man showing his middle fingers as his wife take a picture of him, John Hyde, from Oakland, CA. "This is to the entire regime, the 4th Reich," he said.

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Man giving the finger is having his wife take a picture of him, John Hyde, from Oakland, CA “This is to the entire regime, the 4th Reich” Andrew Lichtenstein for Insider

Close up detail of wanted billboard on bus stops from January 6 insurrection.

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Close up detail of wanted billboard on bus stops from January 6 insurrection Andrew Lichtenstein for Insider

More than 145 pro-Trump rioters have been charged in the Capitol insurrection.

A soldier from the 29th Infantry Division of the Virginia National Guard at the Capitol on Pennsylvania Avenue.

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Soldier on guard surrounding the capital perimeter Alan Chin for Insider

Typically filled with celebration-goers, downtown streets in DC are deserted this year.

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Deserted downtown streets Andrew Lichtenstein for Insider

The 2021 presidential inauguration will be scaled back and is expected to gather a smaller crowd than at past events due to COVID-19 restrictions and heightened security.

President-elect Joe Biden said last month that he expected his Jan. 20 inauguration to be a "more imaginative" virtual event.

"It is highly unlikely that there will be a million people on the mall, going all the way down to the [Lincoln] Memorial," Biden said.

And even if they did, it would be difficult for them to celebrate in person or in the city altogether.

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, and Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam issued a statement ahead of the ceremony that typically draws hundreds of thousands of people calling on Americans to stay out of DC for the inauguration.

"Due to the unique circumstances surrounding the 59th Presidential Inauguration, including last week's violent insurrection as well as the ongoing and deadly COVID-19 pandemic, we are taking the extraordinary step of encouraging Americans not to come to Washington, D.C., and to instead participate virtually," the joint statement read, according to WTOP News.

In an effort to prevent hate groups from disrupting Biden's inauguration, Airbnb announced it would cancel and block all reservations in Washington, DC made for the week of the ceremony.

The Transportation Security Administration "significantly increased" security at DC airports ahead of Inauguration Day. TSA is processing hundreds of names with law enforcement agencies for a thorough risk assessment, according to a statement published Friday.

Guard trucks at the inner perimeter in front of the Teamsters building.

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Guard trucks at the inner perimeter in front of the Teamsters building Andrew Lichtenstein for Insider

Union Station was near-empty ahead of Inauguration Day.

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A near empty Union Station Andrew Lichtenstein for Insider

Fences and soldiers surround the Capitol.

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Fences and soldiers surrounding the Capital Andrew Lichtenstein for Insider

National Guard troops are being taught to screen their colleagues as US defense officials said they fear an insider attack on Biden's inauguration.

"We're continually going through the process, and taking second, third looks at every one of the individuals assigned to this operation," Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said.

Anti-abortion activists chalk the residential streets of the Capitol Hill neighborhood.

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Anti-abortion activists chalk the residential streets of the Capital Hill neighborhood Andrew Lichtenstein for Insider

Solider from the 29th Infantry Division of the Virginia National Guard at the Capitol on Pennsylvania Avenue.

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Soldiers surrounding the capital perimeter Alan Chin for Insider

Cement blocks have been placed around the Capitol perimeter.

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Fences and soldiers surrounding the capital perimeter Andrew Lichtenstein for Insider

National guardsmen on the outer perimeter along Massachusetts Avenue, NW.

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Andrew Lichtenstein for Insider

National guardsmen on the outer perimeter along Massachusetts Avenue, NW.

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Andrew Lichtenstein for Insider

Caution tape has been put up to block off streets around the Capitol building.

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Caution tape has been put up to block off streets around the Capitol building. Andrew Lichtenstein for Insider

threats that police/fbi is looking out for on jan 20

Pedestrian walks with a political sign near the Capitol building.

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Pedestrian walks with political sign near the Capitol building. Andrew Lichtenstein for Insider

The US Capitol went into lockdown Monday following an "external security threat" that turned out to be a fire at a nearby homeless encampment, according to law enforcement officials.

The alert came as security at the complex has been increased to unprecedented levels ahead of Inauguration Day.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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