Inauguration Eve

This was my third presidential inauguration I’ve covered over my career, and it was so dramatically different it’s hard to describe in words. My raw feelings in seeing our nation’s capitol on lock down — having worked in more than 100 countries and witnessed civil unrest and conflict — brought me to tears multiple times on January 20th. Seeing thousands of National Guard troops guarding the U.S. Capitol and National Mall moved me to anger that we were brought so close to the brink by our own people. Thankfully the day transpired in peace and I had so many wonderful and inspiring conversations to remind me of our resilience, goodness and that we will reemerge from this national nightmare stronger. There are so many incredible milestones we’ve achieved and you can feel the potential just waiting to move forward, so I left the day with relief, renewed hope and strength. — Ed Kashi

A checkpoint outside the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. on January 19, 2021.

Thank You!

A teary-eyed Raelyn Maxwell, 40, a private flight attendant, reacted to the Biden-Harris motorcade passing toward the Lincoln Memorial on the eve of their inauguration. Maxwell campaigned for four years against Trump and was here four years ago to protest in the women’s march, and now stands with emotions in Washington, D.C. on January 19, 2021.

Motorcade

Yanti Soeharto, 58, and sister Nia, 56, traveled from Texas to celebrate and to see hope. They are originally from Indonesia, but they have lived in America for 30 years and are United States citizens. Biden’s motorcade passes them in Washington, D.C. the night before Biden’s inauguration on January 19, 2021.

Night Moves

Members of the National Guard move through the streets of Washington, D.C. the night before the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden on January 19, 2021.

Homeland

A homeless man rests on the street as members of the National Guard keep vigil at one of the numerous checkpoints in Washington, D.C. the night before the inauguration of Joe Biden for President of the United States on January 19, 2021.

No Customers

John Goryo, originally from Kenya, selling political paraphernalia near the capitol on January 20th, 2021. Due to the heightened security, business was not robust since there was hardly anybody to sell to.

Both Sides

A Biden supporter poses next to extremist Christian protesters during the Joe Biden inauguration in Washington, D.C. on January 20, 2021.

Get on the Band-Wagon

“The Roving Anti-Trump Band-Wagon” in Washington, D.C. on January 20, 2021.

Reporting Live

A television reporter at work during the Joe Biden inauguration in Washington, D.C. on January 20, 2021.

Home is where…

A man tries to keep warm near a National Guard checkpoint during the Joe Biden inauguration in Washington, D.C. on January 20, 2021.

Selfie Chic

Various scenes in Washington, DC on January 20, 2021.

Changing of the Guard

National Guardsmen marching in Washington, D.C. during the Joe Biden inauguration on January 20, 2021.

Hope

Marcus and Madison Hinton, from Washington, D.C., pose in front of a Black Lives Matter mural near BLM Square on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2021. He works for the State Department and is a former Marine.

Private Security

Security forces keep watch early on inauguration day in Washington, D.C. on January 20, 2021.

Bye, Don!

A Donald Trump doll in the shadow of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on January 20, 2021.

Locked Down

National Guard troops guard the US Capitol in Washington, D.C. on January 20, 2021.

Time to go…

A man yells at protestors on the morning of President Biden’s inauguration in Washington, D.C. on January 20, 2021.

Police State

Capitol Police guard the U.S. Capitol during the Joe Biden inauguration in Washington, D.C. on January 20, 2021.

Shofar, So Good

A man blows a shofar near the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on January 20, 2021.

Looking Up

Rein Phiri, 37, from Michigan and Malawi, in Washington, D.C. on January 20, 2021.