Prince William County School Board member Richard Jessie and his wife, former school board member Lillie Jessie, are urging the community to boycott the upcoming presidential inauguration by turning off their televisions at noon on January 20. They believe that lower viewership will send a strong message to the new administration.
In the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump secured a historic return to the White House, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump won 312 electoral votes to Harris’s 226, marking a significant political comeback.
Comparatively, during Trump’s first inauguration in 2017, approximately 30.6 million people tuned in to watch the ceremony on television. This was the second-highest viewership for an inauguration in 36 years, surpassed only by Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration, which drew 37.8 million viewers.
The Jessies’ call to action aims to reduce television ratings for the 2025 inauguration, potentially making it one of the least-watched in recent history. They encourage community members to participate in this form of peaceful protest, emphasizing the collective power of the people.
What are your thoughts on this proposed boycott? Do you believe that tuning out can effectively convey a message to the administration? Share your opinions in the comments below.
