Queens reps mark a new era at Biden inaugural
BY ANGÉLICA ACEVEDO
The United States of America
welcomed a new presidential
administration on Wednesday,
Jan. 20, in an Inauguration
Day unlike any other, for numerous
reasons. As President
Joe Biden and Vice President
Kamala Harris were sworn in
at the nation’s Capitol — where
just two weeks prior a deadly
insurrection took place —
Queens officials reflected on
the day.
“I congratulate Joe Biden
on becoming the 46th president
of the United States, and I cannot
wait to partner with him
and our new Vice President
Kamala Harris to address the
many critical issues impacting
our country,” Congresswoman
Grace Meng said. “As
I have said, I look forward to
opening a new chapter in our
history with the Biden-Harris
administration. It will be an
era that promises to be one of
healing, hope, and opportunity
for the American people.”
Meng, who has spoken candidly
about the attacks on the
Capitol, praised Biden’s agenda
with immediate actions to
combat the pandemic, address
immigration, expand health
care, among many other issues.
“Better days are ahead
under President Biden’s leadership,
and I look forward to
working with him and his administration
to improve the
lives of my constituents in
Queens and Americans everywhere,”
Meng added.
Wednesday’s inauguration
was scaled down in comparison
to previous inaugurations,
not only because of COVID-19
precautions, but also due to the
Capitol attacks by pro-Trump
insurrectionists on Jan. 6.
Following a rally former
President Donald Trump held
at the White House, where he
continued to deny the results
of the election, hundreds of
pro-Trump supporters attacked
the Capitol, threatening
the lives of former Vice
President Mike Pence and other
lawmakers as they certified
the Electoral College votes.
Five people, including one
Capitol police officer, died.
Hundreds have since been arrested
and are awaiting trial.
The following day, Queens
elected officials began to call
for Trump’s removal from office.
In anticipation of the inauguration,
there had been
heightened security at the
Capitol, including 25,000 National
Guard troops who underwent
additional vetting
after some army veterans and
law enforcement officers were
found to be among the Capitol
insurrectionists.
On Wednesday morning,
Trump left the White House
before the inaugural ceremonies,
again breaking with tradition
by not welcoming the
new administration. He left
after 8 a.m. with former first
lady Melania Trump on Air
Force One toward his home in
Florida, according to Reuters.
Before he left, he spoke
about his administration’s
TIMESLEDGER | Q 10 NS.COM | JAN. 22-JAN. 28, 2021
accomplishments and told
a small group of attendees,
“we’ll be back in some form.”
Trump leaves the White House
being the first president in history
to be impeached twice by
Congress, with an impending
trial in the Senate.
Before Inauguration Day,
Congressman Tom Suozzi
shared a short video on Twitter
from inside the Capitol
building. He said he arrived
early, took his COVID test but
was struck by how “eerie” and
quiet things were there.
“I wanted to come here and
really reflect on what a great
honor it is for me to be in this
position, and the great responsibility
that I have,” Suozzi
said. “I guess a lot of us have
not allowed ourselves to be
excited at all about the inauguration
yet, but I’m letting
myself enjoy it a little bit and
still have the same concerns
that everybody else does that
things go smoothly.”
The following day, as officials
gathered at the National
Mall before the day’s ceremonies,
Suozzi shared another
video at the Capitol with fellow
Congress members captioned
“A new day in America.”
He said that although he
“wouldn’t let himself get excited,”
he is now “really happy.”
“President Joe Biden is exactly
the person we need right
now at this time in American
history. The country is divided
and has been through
a trauma,” Suozzi said. “Joe
Biden will bridge our divide
and work to heal our nation.
He can and he will bring us
together because he knows the
politics, he knows the policy,
and he knows the people.”
Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez
said she is “ready to
usher in a new era where we
move this country forward.”
“There is so much to do,
let’s celebrate today and get
to work,” Velazquez wrote in
a tweet.
“We all worked hard to
get to THIS Inauguration
Day,” Congresswoman Carolyn
Maloney wrote in a tweet
Wednesday morning. “I want
to especially thank all the
Biden-Harris and Dem volunteers
who helped make today
happen.”
Congressman Gregory
Meeks said the inauguration
of President Biden and Vice
President Harris is “significant
for many reasons, not
least of which is the message it
sends to the world.”
“America is not defined by
the last 4 years,” he wrote in
a tweet. “As we turn the page,
I’m eager to work with this
administration to repair our
global standing.”
By noon on Wednesday,
Biden was sworn in as the
46th president of the United
States. He assumes a country
reeling from political divide,
a frail economy, and a raging
pandemic that has killed more
than 400,000 people in the
United States.
“Through a crucible for the
ages, America has been tested
anew, and America has risen
to the challenge,” Biden said.
“Today we celebrate the triumph
not of a candidate but of
a cause: the cause of democracy
… At this hour, my friends,
democracy has prevailed.”
Biden, the oldest man to
serve as president at 78 years
old, thanked his predecessors
from both parties, and emphasized
unity in order to overcome
the obstacles the nation
currently faces.
“With unity, we could do
great things and right wrongs,”
he said. “We can make America
once again, a leading force
for good in the world.”
Vice President Harris is
now the first Black person,
first woman and first Asian
American to serve as second
in command. She was sworn
in by U.S. Supreme Court Justice
Sonia Sotomayor, the first
Puerto Rican member in the
Supreme Court.
The ceremony included
performances from Lady
Gaga, who sang the national
anthem, Jennifer Lopez and
Garth Brooks, as well as poet
Amanda Gorman, who made
history as the youngest woman
to recite a poem at the inauguration.
Congresswoman Alexandria
Ocasio-Cortez congratulated
President Biden and Vice
President Harris in a tweet following
the ceremony.
“A historic day. Congratulations
to our new President
@JoeBiden and our new Vice
President @KamalaHarris,”
Ocasio-Cortez wrote. “Now
we must begin creating justice,
healing our planet, and
improving the material conditions
for all people. The work
is on all of us to organize and
build a better future.”
Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th President of the United States on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol
in Washington, U.S., January 20, 2021. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
Rep. Tom Suozzi in front of the Capitol building before the start of
the inauguration ceremony. Photo via Twitter/@RepTomSuozzi
/NS.COM
