Photos show what DC looks like a day before Biden's inauguration

Alan Chin, Andrew Lichtenstein, Bre'anna GrantJan 20, 2021, 04:54 IST

Workers put up "Biden-Harris" branded bunting on a press riser along the inaugural parade route near the White House on January 14, 2021 in Washington, DC. Thousands of National Guard troops have been activated to protect the nation's capital against threats surrounding President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration and to prevent a repeat of last weeks deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Inauguration Day 2021 will be like no other amid the coronavirus pandemic and looming threats following the deadly insurrection that took place two weeks earlier.
DC is preparing for a scaled-back event — which includes a seven-foot, non-scalable fence around the Capitol Hill complex — to keep everyone safe.
Both President-elect Joe Biden and VP-elect Kamala Harris said they will continue with a traditional outdoor ceremony at the Capitol building despite security concerns throughout the country.

Inauguration Day 2021 is unlike those in the past.

President-elect Joe Biden and VP-elect Kamala Harris will be sworn in amid a coronavirus pandemic that has claimed more than 400,000 lives in the US as of Tuesday and just two weeks after the deadly breach of the US Capitol.

Last week, Harris said that she and Biden would not "yield to those who would try and make us afraid of who we are," in response to soon being sworn into office outside of the US Capitol.

"We cannot abandon the appreciation that we should all have for the traditions that are symbolic of our commitment to our democracy," she told NPR.

Biden also said he was not afraid to take the oath in the traditional outdoor ceremony at the Capitol building despite security concerns throughout the country.

Since the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has urged Americans to stay home and out of DC during the inauguration. In their place, 200,000 American flags have been set up at National Mall for the ceremony.

Here are photos that show what DC looks like a day before Biden and Harris are sworn into office.

National guardsmen on the outer perimeter along Massachusetts Avenue, NW.

Andrew Lichtenstein

Man showing his middle fingers as his wife take a picture of him, John Hyde, from Oakland, CA. "This is to the entire regime, the 4th Reich," he said.

Man giving the finger is having his wife take a picture of him, John Hyde, from Oakland, CA “This is to the entire regime, the 4th Reich” Andrew Lichtenstein for Insider

Close up detail of wanted billboard on bus stops from January 6 insurrection.

Close up detail of wanted billboard on bus stops from January 6 insurrection Andrew Lichtenstein for Insider

A soldier from the 29th Infantry Division of the Virginia National Guard at the Capitol on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Soldier on guard surrounding the capital perimeter Alan Chin for Insider

Typically filled with celebration-goers, downtown streets in DC are deserted this year.

Deserted downtown streets Andrew Lichtenstein for Insider

Guard trucks at the inner perimeter in front of the Teamsters building.

Guard trucks at the inner perimeter in front of the Teamsters building Andrew Lichtenstein for Insider

Union Station was near-empty ahead of Inauguration Day.

A near empty Union Station Andrew Lichtenstein for Insider

Fences and soldiers surround the Capitol.

Fences and soldiers surrounding the Capital Andrew Lichtenstein for Insider

Anti-abortion activists chalk the residential streets of the Capitol Hill neighborhood.

Anti-abortion activists chalk the residential streets of the Capital Hill neighborhood Andrew Lichtenstein for Insider

Solider from the 29th Infantry Division of the Virginia National Guard at the Capitol on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Soldiers surrounding the capital perimeter Alan Chin for Insider

Cement blocks have been placed around the Capitol perimeter.

Fences and soldiers surrounding the capital perimeter Andrew Lichtenstein for Insider

National guardsmen on the outer perimeter along Massachusetts Avenue, NW.

Andrew Lichtenstein for Insider

National guardsmen on the outer perimeter along Massachusetts Avenue, NW.

Andrew Lichtenstein for Insider

Caution tape has been put up to block off streets around the Capitol building.

Caution tape has been put up to block off streets around the Capitol building. Andrew Lichtenstein for Insider

Pedestrian walks with a political sign near the Capitol building.

Pedestrian walks with political sign near the Capitol building. Andrew Lichtenstein for Insider

From climate action failure to monopoly in the tech world — the world needs to wake up to these global risks in 2021, says the World Economic Forum

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

Photos show what DC looks like a day before Biden's inauguration

National guardsmen on the outer perimeter along Massachusetts Avenue, NW.

Man showing his middle fingers as his wife take a picture of him, John Hyde, from Oakland, CA. "This is to the entire regime, the 4th Reich," he said.

Close up detail of wanted billboard on bus stops from January 6 insurrection.

A soldier from the 29th Infantry Division of the Virginia National Guard at the Capitol on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Typically filled with celebration-goers, downtown streets in DC are deserted this year.

Guard trucks at the inner perimeter in front of the Teamsters building.

Union Station was near-empty ahead of Inauguration Day.

Fences and soldiers surround the Capitol.

Anti-abortion activists chalk the residential streets of the Capitol Hill neighborhood.

Solider from the 29th Infantry Division of the Virginia National Guard at the Capitol on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Cement blocks have been placed around the Capitol perimeter.

National guardsmen on the outer perimeter along Massachusetts Avenue, NW.

National guardsmen on the outer perimeter along Massachusetts Avenue, NW.

Caution tape has been put up to block off streets around the Capitol building.

Pedestrian walks with a political sign near the Capitol building.