[media-credit name=”Glyn Lowe Photoworks” align=”alignnone” width=”640″][/media-credit]Hundreds of thousands gathered in Washington, D.C. to watch President Barack Obama’s second inauguration, which fell on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day this year. The Presidential Inaugural Committee reported that around one million people attended the ceremony.

To start off his second term, Obama called to end partisanship, preserve government health-care programs, expand rights for lesbian and gay couples, and press for gun controls, overhauls of the tax code and immigration laws, as well as implement climate-change measures.

Adelyn Yau, sophomore commented, “I believe he is giving everyone equal rights and is being reasonable with the changes that he is making.”

During his speech, Obama stated, “Each time we gather to inaugurate a president, we bear witness to the enduring strength of our constitution. We affirm the promise of our democracy, we recall that what binds this nation together is not the colors of our skin.”

After being sworn in, President Obama watched the rest of the parade where Beyoncé sang the National Anthem, Kelly Clarkson performed “My Country ‘Tis of Thee,” and James Taylor sang “America the Beautiful.”

“I really liked Beyoncé’s performance because since she is African American it represented equality for not only presidential elections but in all industries in America,” added Yau.

This inauguration represents not only another four years for President Obama, but also a new era of equality in America.