Joe Biden and Kamala Harris pay tribute to 400,000 dead from Covid-19
President-elect Joe Biden and his wife presided over a ceremony to honor the victims of Covid-19, in Washington, on January 19, 2021. REUTERS - TOM BRENNER
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
Joe Biden will be invested this Wednesday, January 20, 46th President of the United States.
No popular jubilation for this ceremony under close surveillance: Americans have been called to stay at home because of the coronavirus pandemic but also fears of violent demonstrations on the part of supporters of Donald Trump.
On the eve of their inauguration, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris paid tribute to the victims of Covid-19.
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With our correspondent in Washington,
Anne Corpet
Michigan nurse Lori Marie Key, who has cared for Covid-19 patients, sings
Amazing Grace in
front of the Lincoln Memorial.
As she had done in her hospital in April, filmed at the time in a moving video that had toured the country.
Joe Biden, his wife, Kamala Harris and her husband stand in front of a protective plexiglass wall.
Just behind, 400 lights are reflected in the rectangular basin, to remind the 400,000 American victims of the pandemic.
The ceremony is brief, sober.
Joe Biden, who has been grieved himself, speaks.
“
To heal, we have to remember.
It's hard to remember sometimes, but that's how you heal.
It's important to do it as a Nation.
that is why we are here today.
"
The President-elect and Vice-President-elect then meditate for a moment as the sun goes down.
The bells of the National Cathedral rang 400 times.
The committee in charge of Joe Biden's investiture said light ceremonies were also planned at the Empire State Building in New York and the Space Needle in Seattle.
In a statement, the committee called on Americans to light candles near their windows as a symbol of unity.
Gospel singer Yolanda Adams concluded the ceremony by singing
Hallelujah
.
The fight against the coronavirus will be
one of the first challenges
for Joe Biden who with this ceremony of remembrance already shows an approach diametrically opposed to that of the outgoing president.
Joe Biden has already announced that he would take a decree on Wednesday to make it compulsory to wear a mask in premises and spaces dependent on the federal state, as well as when traveling between states, which outgoing President Donald Trump has always refused .
The threshold of 300,000 deaths was exceeded just a month ago, in mid-December.
► Read also:
United States: Joe Biden unveils his vaccination plan against Covid-19
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United States
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