The Talladega Tornados marching band was subject to threats after accepting the invitation from the Trump campaign.
The Talladega Tornados marching band has arrived in Washington, D.C., following their controversial decision to play Donald Trump’s inauguration.
The band from historically black Talladega College in Alabama came under fire when they accepted the invitation to march in President-elect Trump's inauguration parade.
“These young people are citizens and they deserve to be here," College president Dr. Billy Hawkins told Inside Edition.
He said he even received death threats after accepting the invitation.
Former Apprentice contestant, Omarosa Manigault, who is joining the Trump administration after he's sworn in Friday, helped make it happen.
“I had to step up, we had a conversation,” she told Inside Edition. “I'm gonna do everything I can to get them here.”
She arranged an interview with Fox News' Bill O'Reilly, who asked his viewers to raise money to fund the band's journey to our nation's capital. Donations poured in, reaching a sum of $650,000.
Read: Donald Trump's Inauguration by the Numbers
The band left Alabama on Wednesday at 2 p.m. in six buses, a 20-hour journey to the capitol.
Despite the long trip, the kids were in good spirits.
"It's not about politics," one student said. "We're honored to be here."
Watch: Inauguration Performers Urge Americans to Get Behind Trump: 'Let's Move On'
