The Trump Inaugural Parade is a Political Event

by Henry Taylor · 01/09/2025

In his recent op-ed in the New York Daily News, Leonard Greene argues that the Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU), an HBCU marching band, should not be criticized for accepting an invitation to perform at Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration.

Greene suggests we should separate the presidency and the inauguration parade from politics, dismissing the event as “just a parade.”

This viewpoint overlooks the political nature of the presidency and its ceremonial events, especially when tied to a figure as political as Donald Trump—a person widely regarded as a racist, hate-monger, and fascist.

The Trump presidency is inseparable from his racist rhetoric and policies.

The Trump inauguration, including its parade, is a political event. It aims to legitimize and glorify his ideas, policies and mantra on Making America Great Again. This parade is not “just” a celebration of the peaceful transfer of power from one president to another. It represents an opportunity to limit democracy, and institutionalize right-wing, racist, and anti-democratic policies throughout the nation.

The Trump inaugural parade will be a political event.

We have been in this movie before. During his presidency, several championship teams—

The Golden State Warriors (NBA), Philadelphia Eagles (NFL), Minnesota Lynx (WNBA), and South Carolina Gamecocks (NCAA women’s basketball)—

Declined Trump’s invitations to the White House, explicitly rejecting the political symbolism of honoring Trump’s administration.

These decisions underscore a recognition that participation is never apolitical. To dismiss the parade as a harmless tradition ignores this reality.

Do what you want to do, but do not insult the intelligence of people by pretending that this inauguration event is just an apolitical parade.

Henry L. Taylor January 9, 2025