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Maneuvering around DC was a feat last Friday as President Donald Trump was sworn into office.
Throughout the week, security grew tighter as Inauguration Day drew near, and eventually all of Pennsylvania Avenue was cordoned off. Lines stretched far up Constitution Avenue from the Metro stop, while peddlers and protestors did their best to distract the crowds.
Every bag was searched and many small backpacks and purses were confiscated along with umbrellas and fruit. Those with red-and-blue-bordered tickets for the closest standing areas in the “bowl” found the areas were shut down with gates by 9:30 a.m. — a full two hours before the ceremonies — and those people were moved to the rear.
Spirits were high among Trump supporters from every state. There were many loud boos when Hillary Clinton was shown on the huge video screens. There were also boos for California Sen. Nancy Pelosi, former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Joe Biden. Sen. Chuck Schumer was booed as soon as his speech was determined to be a lecture to Trump supporters. The crowd shouted "USA, USA" and "Trump" to drown him out.
Miles of strategically placed gates kept the parade route down Pennsylvania Avenue within the screened zones. Police officers from several states stood every few feet with one set facing the parade and the other set facing the crowds. No one was allowed to cross the avenue, and every few blocks there was a fully gated zone with only one screened entrance — no one was allowed to come or go except through that entrance.
Republican committee members who had been bused from the hotels were provided with shopping bags of food for lunch. Large parties at the Newseum and the Canadian embassy were on lockdown. Some people started to gather at 6 a.m. for the parade, hoping to catch a glimpse of the new president and first lady. As soon as the first family's vehicles passed, thousands of supporters left as the rest of the parade rolled by until long after 6 p.m.
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