DC-Area Marching Bands Opt to Sit Out Trump's Inaugural Parade

[LongTomH]

From NBC Washington:

The band at D.C.'s Howard University, which marched in Obama's first inaugural parade, also did not apply to march in Trump's parade. Band director John Newson said the band had too few members and was facing budgetary constraints.

He said he suspects that many band directors' and school administrators' political beliefs played into whether they applied to participate in the parade.

"I think everybody knows why and no one wants to say and lose their job," Newson said.

Applications to participate in the parade were due Dec. 5, and the Presidential Inaugural Committee is expected to announce soon which bands were selected. The committee did not respond to inquiries about how many applications were received.

............//snip

The Lesbian and Gay Band Assocation, which included the D.C. group Different Drummers, also opted to skip Trump's inaugural parade. The association played in Obama's second inaugural parade but did not to apply this year because of political and safety concerns.

"While the parade route itself should be a safe zone, we cannot hope to guarantee our safety while traveling, while rehearsing in public or while out and about in the D.C. area during the weekend," the band's board of directors said in a statement. "All minorities are at risk and any opportunity we give the new administration to co-opt a minority organization will likely be exploited to our detriment."

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Guess D.C. can write off statehood for another 4-8 years.

But it was worth it!