Mayor Gray Says Inauguration A Platform For D.C. Autonomy

As planning in the District begins for the presidential inauguration in January, Mayor Vincent Gray says city leaders are hoping to use the occasion to highlight D.C.'s lack of autonomy.

Gray says he is not "at liberty" to discuss what city leaders will do, although he says one idea involves using the viewing stand in front of Wilson Building to try to send a message to the American people during the parade along Pennsylvania Ave.

"You don't get many opportunities like that," says Gray. "Obviously, in this instance, only every four years, so while we don't have concrete plans at this stage, we all very cognizant of the opportunity we have in front of us."

The mayor hasn't been shy about trying to bring attention to D.C.'s situation. Last year, the mayor and other city leaders were arrested on Capitol Hill to protest D.C.'s lack of budget autonomy.