Bangor Students Won’t Watch Inauguration Live in Schools

The Bangor School Department will not provide a way for students to watch the inauguration live, out of a fear of violence.

According to a post on the department's Facebook page, administrators recognize that the inauguration of the 46th United States President is an historic event. Their decision not to allow for teachers to share the inauguration with students, as it is happening, is based solely on the threat of potential violence at the event that they say could affect students' emotional health.

Teachers will be able to share clips and highlights of the inauguration in the days following the event, to discuss the historic aspects of the day. Administrators feel this is a safe compromise to respect the importance of the inauguration without exposing their students to any discord that may erupt on that day.

Nearly 200 Maine National Guard soldiers, as well as troops from other states, have been dispatched to Washington D.C. to help with security at the inauguration. In addition, Governor Janet Mills has activated the National Guard Troops who remain in the state, in the event they should be needed to help with protests in Augusta.

These measures are in response to information from the FBI that there could be violent/armed protests in state Capitals, leading up to the inauguration. After protestors stormed the Capitol building earlier this month, on the day Joseph Biden was declared the official winner of the United States Presidential race, law enforcement has been beefing up security across the country, out of an abundance of caution.