George W. Bush Second Inauguration, Jan 20, 2005, by Emily Wolkowicz
From MemoryArchive
Who: Emily Wolkowicz What: George W. Bush Second Inauguration When: Jan. 20, 2005 Where: Washington DC
The city of Washington DC was unprepared for this inauguration; it really did seem to come as a complete surprise that there would be any events at all. The construction and security setup in downtown DC was running behind schedule.
I had just come back from winter break when I was told that the DC Citizen Corps, a team of volunteer EMTs, would be providing our services for the events. It was also decided that week, but POTUS himself, that everyone should have new uniforms. So I found myself packed into the Uniform Shop on Rhode Island Avenue along with everyone else in the city. I don't know who was policing the area or what would have happened if there would have been a heart attack downtown. Clearly this was not a priority.
On the day of the swearing in ceremony, everyone working gathered at the Veterans Hospital at some ridiculous hour, i think 3:30am. The Department of Health was there in full force handing out fleece lined jackets as we settled in to take naps. Around 5am we were briefed by the chief of police, and then by the chief of EMS. I was assigned to an intersection about 2 blocks from the Capital along the parade route.
We flew by clearance by 6am and arrived at our classy white Winnebago. After a supply check I went for a walk. Very few people had arrived at that hour and only a few would ever arrive. Those who were there were from out of state white people. I remember a group of school kids from Kentucky and a church group from Texas.
I think everyone who attended the swearing in ceremony will remember two things: it was freezing cold and that the protesters were malicious. They were out in full force and so were the police. The police were using metal fences to try to hold them back. When the parade route went by the protesters hurled rotten fruit over the fence. They also threw snowballs, one of which hit a Secret Service car.
Along with the cold it was windy. The press was set up across from my corner so when the wind caused a light to fall and shatter on a reporter's head (Molly) we attempted to treat her. It was tough to stop the bleeding because she was wearing so much make up. It was caked on like an inch thick. The whole time she was laying there she kept repeating how nice everyone in the city was. Clearly she wasn't from around here.
Molly wasn't oblivious to the protesters, however. The next morning the New York Times cover story she was quoted for saying "Those protesters are such hooligans!" I was proud.
The other exciting call was from inside the Department of Justice. The building had been completely evacuated so getting an ambulance even through the security was tough. We took our golf cart, I was riding on the back. The whole building was being used for security. The man inside was having a stroke so we called in for the ambulance. As we were waiting I turned around in the security room and saw that the whole wall was covered with small black and white security screens. Every street in Washington DC was being watched, every person was visible. It was truely a big brother moment and I think of the Department of Justice everytime I walk down the street.
This inauguration was a lot more low key than Clinton's second. It was lacking the positive energy from the city, the aura was that of anger and frustration. The animosity from the protesters was the strongest emotion and the one I will remember from that bleak day.
