No D.C. marching bands have signed up to participate at Trump inaugural parade
Members of the Ballou Senior High School marching band perform during the 21st Annual Fannie Mae Help the Homeless Walkathon on the Mall. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times) ** FILE
- The Washington Times - Wednesday, December 14, 2016
ANALYSIS/OPINION:
D.C. marching bands are refusing to participate in President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural parade.
However, last month, students in D.C. area schools were all to eager to participate in protests of Mr. Trump’s election. They skipped classes and marched to Mr. Trump’s Washington hotel and then to the Capitol, chanting slogans including, “Love trumps hate,” “Black lives matter” and “Build bridges, not walls.”
“At least one D.C. public school marching band has participated in the past five inaugural parades, but none have applied for consideration this year,” NBC4, a local television station reported.
When asked why, the schools were mostly silent — or gave bologna excuses.
Ballou High School’s Majestic Marching Knights “decided to take a break in January” the school’s principal told NBC4. They performed Destiny’s Child’s “Lose My Breath” at former President George W. Bush’s second inaugural parade in 2005, and stepped along Pennsylvania Avenue as they played James Brown’s “I Got You (I Feel Good)” at President Obama’s second inaugural parade eight years later, the station said.
Eastern High School officials declined to comment on why the school chose to sit out Mr. Trump’s parade.
Members of the Ballou Senior High School marching band perform during the 21st Annual Fannie Mae Help the Homeless Walkathon on the Mall. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times) ** FILE
- The Washington Times - Wednesday, December 14, 2016
ANALYSIS/OPINION:
D.C. marching bands are refusing to participate in President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural parade.
However, last month, students in D.C. area schools were all to eager to participate in protests of Mr. Trump’s election. They skipped classes and marched to Mr. Trump’s Washington hotel and then to the Capitol, chanting slogans including, “Love trumps hate,” “Black lives matter” and “Build bridges, not walls.”
“At least one D.C. public school marching band has participated in the past five inaugural parades, but none have applied for consideration this year,” NBC4, a local television station reported.
When asked why, the schools were mostly silent — or gave bologna excuses.
Ballou High School’s Majestic Marching Knights “decided to take a break in January” the school’s principal told NBC4. They performed Destiny’s Child’s “Lose My Breath” at former President George W. Bush’s second inaugural parade in 2005, and stepped along Pennsylvania Avenue as they played James Brown’s “I Got You (I Feel Good)” at President Obama’s second inaugural parade eight years later, the station said.
Eastern High School officials declined to comment on why the school chose to sit out Mr. Trump’s parade.
