Kamala Harris sworn in as America's first woman Vice President

Indianorigin Kamala Harris was on Wednesday sworn in as Americarsquos first woman Vice President during a historic inauguration at the West Front of the CapitolHarris 56 the 49th US Vice President will serve as the deputy of President Joe Biden 78 who also took the oath of office becoming the 46th US PresidentHarris took over the office of the US Vice President from 61yearold Mike Pence Biden succeeded President Donald Trump 74Harris the daughter of an Indian immigrant from Chennai scripted history by becoming the firstever woman Vice President of the United States She is also the first female first Black and first South Asian American vice presidentHer husband Douglas Emhoff 56 is the first lsquoSecond Gentlemanrsquo the first male spouse of a vice president in the USJustice Sonia Sotomayor the first Latina member of the Supreme Court administered the oath of office to HarrisShe was sworn in on two Bibles one that belonged to a close family friend named Regina Shelton and another that belonged to Thurgood Marshall the countrys first African American Supreme Court justiceHarris is the daughter of an Indian mother and AfricanAmerican father from JamaicaShe was born in Oakland California in 1964 to parents who raised her in a bassinet of civil rights activismHer mother Shyamala Gopalan Harris from Chennai was a breast cancer researcher who died of cancer in 2009 Harris father Donald is a Jamaican American professor of economicsOn the campaign trail Harris often talked about how her activist parents would push her in her stroller at civil rights marches The couple divorced in 1972Harris grew up in the Bay Area but took frequent trips to India to visit extended family At 12 she and her sister Maya moved with their mother to Montreal where Gopalan Harris had secured a teaching post at McGill University as well as a research position at the Jewish General HospitalAfter graduating from Howard in 1986 for her undergraduate degree and from the University of Californias Hastings College of the Law in 1989 Harris passed the bar the following year and joined the Alameda County prosecutors office as an assistant district attorney From there she began her political ascentIn 2003 Harris won her first race for San Francisco district attorney becoming the first Black woman to hold such an office in California In 2010 she became the first Black woman elected as California attorney general and in 2016 she became only the second Black woman ever elected as a US senatorThe inauguration which was held in the midst of the COVID19 pandemic saw no large gatherings as the Presidential Inaugural Committee and local law enforcement officials had asked the public not to travel to Washington DC for the eventElaborate security arrangements were put in place for the historic inauguration following the January 6 riot at the Capitol by supporters of outgoing President TrumpThe event was held under the unprecedented security umbrella of over 25000 National Guards who have transformed the capital into a garrison city mainly because of the threat of more violent protests by the supporters of TrumpTrump on Tuesday extended best wishes to the new administration in a farewell video addressTrump has not only refused to concede the elections for more than two months but also did not invite his successor to the White House as is the customThe ceremony was attended by former presidents Barack Obama George W Bush and Bill Clinton Former first ladies Michelle Obama Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton are also set to attend the eventBiden and Harris will attend a traditional Pass in Review with members of the military on the East Front of the Capitol signifying the peaceful transfer of power to a new commanderinchiefBiden Harris and their spouses will visit Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia where they will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown SoldierAfter the wreath ceremony they will head to the White House where they will get a presidential escort That will kick off the virtual Parade Across America featuring performances from all 56 states and territoriesThe new administration enters the White House with the top challenge to lift the country from the devastation of the coronavirus pandemic that has killed over 400000 Americans and thrown millions into economic distress Revival of the economy which has been badly bruised by the pandemic is another challenge that he facesMeanwhile the American capital has been virtually turned into a garrison city amidst multiple reports of threats and more armed violence by proTrump supporters to disrupt the eventsThe area in and around Capitol Hill a large part of Pennsylvania Avenue and the White House has been made out of bounds for the general public with eightfeet high iron barricades being erectedIn addition to converting downtown Washington DC into a fortress security in and around 50 State Capitols has also been put on high alert to ensure a peaceful transition of powerUS defence officials say they are also worried about an insider attack or other threat from service members involved in securing Bidens inauguration prompting the FBI to vet all of the 25000 National Guard troops deployed for the eventThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever