Not a single D.C. public school marching band applied by the December 9 deadline to be considered for participation in president-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural parade.
Ballou High School's Majestic Marching Knights performed Destiny's Child's "Lose My Breath" at 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 Barack Obama's second inaugural parade eight years later.
But the beloved band decided to take a break in January and not apply to play in the inaugural parade after several other recent performances, the principal said.
Other schools, when asked, have given various excuses such as they are in “rebuilding” phases. Others just don’t feel safe at an event lauding Trump and the kind of hatred and fear he represents.
The Lesbian and Gay Band Association, which included the D.C. group Different Drummers, also opted to skip Mr. Trump’s inaugural parade because of “safety concerns,” — you know, because Mr. Trump and his supporters are a bunch of deplorables.
“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.”
Don’t worry, there will be bands.