California Today: With Swearing-In, Protests and Parties
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It’s Inauguration Day, and Californians — red and blue — are gearing up.
As Donald J. Trump’s supporters looked to soak up the pageantry of the unlikely victor’s swearing-in, protesters were getting ready to pour onto the streets.
On Thursday night, theaters across the state held pre-inauguration light ceremonies — “for dark times ahead.” On Friday, activists planned a human chain across the Golden Gate Bridge, walkouts from schools and old-fashioned protests in just about every major city.
More than a dozen members of California’s congressional delegation planned to boycott the inauguration, with some joining demonstrations or else “preparing for resistance.”
On Saturday, nearly 50 locations in California planned to hold Sister Marches in solidarity with the Women’s March on Washington. The biggest was likely to be in Los Angeles, where officials were bracing for as many as 100,000 people.
Organizers said they hoped the demonstrations would kick off a four-year campaign to call attention to women’s voices.
“I think a lot of people who don’t consider themselves part of the political process have realized that they want to be,” said Dawn Addis, an organizer of the march in San Luis Obispo.
Even as California’s majority Democrats were digging in for battle, it was celebration time for many of the state’s Republican residents. (Nearly 4.5 million Californians voted for Mr. Trump.)
A number of groups planned inauguration viewing parties.
At the Fairbanks Ranch Country Club in San Diego, Champagne was to be served to a gathering of about 400 Trump backers. Sam Hardage, a business leader who helped organize the event, said California Republicans were eager for “better times.”
“The level of enthusiasm,” he said, “is through the roof.”
California Online
(Please note: We regularly highlight articles on news sites that have limited access for nonsubscribers.)
• Rural, conservative California will have more power under President Donald J. Trump. [San Francisco Chronicle]
• A fact-checking group rated the claim that California’s uninsured rate has hit a “historic low.” It’s true. [Politifact]
• The Raiders want to go to Las Vegas, a city the N.F.L. once shunned. But the league’s stance has softened. [The New York Times]
• A gun case from California may test the limits of the Second Amendment. [Opinion | The New York Times]
• In a major win for Tesla, its self-driving system was cleared of fault in a deadly crash. [The New York Times]
• Miguel Ferrer, an actor whose credits included “RoboCop,” “Twin Peaks” and “NCIS: Los Angeles,” died at 61. [Los Angeles Times]
• Michael Keaton’s performance in “The Founder” doesn’t enhance the movie. It is the movie. [The New York Times]
• “A Dog’s Purpose,” a feel-good movie for dog lovers, is facing outrage over the possible mistreatment of a dog. [The New York Times]
• Jason Momoa chatted about his “Game of Thrones” audition, his domesticated life in Topanga and more. [The New York Times]
• New additions to Carmel Valley are attracting visitors to the lesser-known side of Monterey County. [The New York Times]
• This Bel Air mansion with 12 bedrooms and a helicopter is on sale for $250 million. [Bloomberg]
• Have you bought milk in California since 2003? As a result of a lawsuit, you could be owed money. [Boughtmilk.com]
And Finally ...
On Wednesday, we asked readers to weigh in on the boycott of Mr. Trump’s inauguration by a segment of Congress.
A sample of the responses:
It’s petty. It’s childish. Not participating in the peaceful transfer of power, which is a keystone of our democracy, is an insult to the voters in California.— Mark WellsMr. Trump has exhibited such horrific disrespect for women, the disabled, people of color, Islam, the press, and the dignity of the office of the president. The list goes on and on. Not attending the inauguration is a simple statement — Mr. Trump is not worthy. It is not the boycotters who disrespect the office. It is Mr. Trump.— Mary Lu ChristieI feel there is nothing wrong with their boycott plans. It represents a peaceful way to show their concern over an incoming president who has shown an appalling lack of respect to many, many factions of the American populace.— Sandy KingI certainly understand why our Legislature would want to boycott Mr. Trump’s inauguration, but this act is indicative of a country that is not willing to work together.— Sharon McMahonI will support the peaceful transfer of power if the incoming president can behave like a civilized adult.— Anna Lee
California Today goes live at 6 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com.
The California Today columnist, Mike McPhate, is a third-generation Californian — born outside Sacramento and raised in San Juan Capistrano. He lives in Davis. Follow him on Twitter.
California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and attended U.C. Berkeley.
P.C: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/20/us/california-today-trump-swearing-in-protests-parties.html
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