SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- A retired San Diego Police lieutenant turned journalist is in Washington D.C., documenting scenes Americans have not seen before. Ray Shay is spending the next two days documenting Washington D.C.'s heavily guarded streets.
On Tuesday, he spoke to ABC-10 as he stood next to the 21,000 National Guard troops deployed to the district.
“First hand, right here,” Shay said. “America is coming together to protect this inauguration.”
Shay has traveled all over the country filming civil unrest as it unfolds, including in Portland and Kenosha.
His goal now is to give people an on-the-ground perspective of the side of the inauguration the main stream media's cameras may not capture.
“Close to the crowds, close to the events, close to the backing up trucks, close to the National Guard, so people really get a feel of what it's like to be here, because so many people are afraid to come right now,” Shay said.
That's not just because of COVID, but also the violent backdrop of pro-Trump rioters who stormed the capitol on Jan. 6, delaying electoral certification of Joe Biden’s win — and more recent warnings of more unrest on inauguration day.
I feel confident attending the inauguration in person, we've had a number of security briefings. There are a huge amount of national guard, of police presence. We know that theyre taking any threat very seriously,” said Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, a Democrat of San Diego’s 53rd District.
Congressman Darrell Issa’s spokesman said Issa, a republican, will attend the inauguration and expects a peaceful transfer of power.
Meanwhile, Democratic Congressman Scott Peters said in a statement he lamented that more Americans couldn’t attend the inauguration due to COVID and threats of violence.
“I will fulfill my role as a Representative and bear witness and then look forward to working to repair the damage that has been brought by this dark chapter in our nation’s history,” he said.
Shay said D.C. was mostly clear of civilians on Tuesday. But he'll have his camera on hand for whatever unfolds before and after President-elect Biden is sworn in.
