Nearly 60 Democratic lawmakers now skipping Trump’s inauguration
A growing group of Democratic lawmakers will boycott President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration Friday to protest what they described as his alarming and divisive policies, foreign interference in his election and his criticism of civil rights icon John Lewis, a congressman from Georgia.
There are now nearly 60 House Democrats — 59, at last count — who have declared that they will not attend the inauguration on Capitol Hill this week. The number rose sharply after Trump tweeted Saturday that Lewis (D) is “all talk, talk, talk” and should “finally focus on the burning and crime infested inner-cities.”
Lewis, who sees Trump’s Nov. 8 win as illegitimate because of Russia’s alleged interference in the election, is best known for leading civil rights protests in the 1960s, including the 1965 march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., during which state troopers brutally attacked the crowd. Lewis will not attend the inauguration, he told NBC News in an interview for Sunday’s “Meet the Press.”
Here’s a list of other lawmakers who will not attend, starting alphabetically with Rep. Alma Adams (D-N.C.):
Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.):
Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.):
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.):
Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.):
Rep. Anthony G. Brown (D-Md.):
Skipping Inauguration.@RepJohnLewis a civil rights hero. Enormous responsibility to be POTUS.I respect the office, can't tolerate disrespect
Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.):
Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-Calif.):
“After serious consideration, I have decided that I will not stand with Donald Trump during his ceremonial inauguration . . . I feel this decision best represents my family, constituents, and country,” Cardenas said in a statement.
Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Tex.):
“Donald Trump has shown an utter lack of respect for so many Americans. His attack on civil rights hero John Lewis is the latest example. I will not attend this year’s inauguration ceremony,” Castro said in a statement.
Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.):
After much thought, I have decided to #StandWithJohnLewis and not attend the inauguration.
Rep. Katherine M. Clark (D-Mass.):
Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (D-N.Y.):
I will NOT attend the inauguration of @realDonaldTrump. When you insult @repjohnlewis, you insult America.
Rep. William Lacy Clay (D-Mo.):
A spokesman told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that Clay will be “back home in St. Louis speaking to school kids.”
Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.):
Announced @ Mason Temple, #MLK final speech, that I won't attend #inauguration out of respect for @repjohnlewis & for unpresidential remarks
Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.):
Agree with VP Biden that it's time for Trump to grow up. Being POTUS is a serious matter - not child's play. I stand w/ @repjohnlewis (3/3)
Rep. Peter A. DeFazio (D-Ore.):
DeFazio typically avoids “pomp and circumstance events in Washington,” he said in a statement to Oregon Public Broadcasting.
Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.):
It is with a heavy heart and deep personal conviction that I have decided not to attend the #TrumpInauguration on January 20, 2017.
Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas):
Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.):
I’m going to #StandWithJohnLewis. I won’t attend the Inauguration on Friday.
Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.):
Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.):
I will NOT be attending the inauguration for @realDonaldTrump!
Rep. Dwight Evans (D-Pa.):
I #StandWithJohnLewis. I will not be attending the inauguration. Russian hacking must be investigated and I do not support the repeal of ACA
Rep. Marcia L. Fudge (D-Ohio):
As I told @JoyAnnReid, I will not be attending #Inauguration. I will be at home in Cleveland. #IStandWithJohnLewis
Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.):
Rep. Al Green (D-Tex.):
Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.):
Rep. Luis V. Gutiérrez (D-Ill.):
Rep. Alcee L. Hastings (D-Fla.):
Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.):
Appreciate @marinij article on my decision to do service events instead of attend @realDonaldTrump inauguration marinij.com/article/NO/201 …
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.):
I will not be attending Trump's inauguration. I will be with the people of my district. #OurFirstStand
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.):
Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.):
Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.):
Mr. Lieu's statement on why he won't be attending the Inauguration of @realDonaldTrump READ HERE: lieu.house.gov/media-center/p …
Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.):
Will not attend, per the Chicago Tribune.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.):
“I acknowledge the fact that he is the incoming president, but I’m not in the mood to celebrate that fact,” Lofgren told the Los Angeles Times.
Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-Calif.):
Will not attend, per the Los Angeles Times.
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.):
The rhetoric + actions of @realDonaldTrump have been so far beyond the pale, I cannot in good conscience participate in this inauguration.
Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (D-Calif.):
Will not attend, per the Los Angeles Times.
Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (D-N.J.):
“I will not celebrate [Trump’s] swearing-in to an office that he has proven unfit to hold,” Payne said in a statement.
Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine):
At MLK Day dinner in Portland, I announced that I would not attend Trump's inauguration. Here's why: bit.ly/2jt4Qam#mepolitics
Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.):
After reading classified Russian hacking doc & @realDonaldTrump offensive tweets to @repjohnlewis I will not be attending the Inauguration.
Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.):
Will not attend, per the Chicago Tribune.
Rep. Jamie B. Raskin (D-Md.):
“I cannot risk my presence at his inauguration being interpreted as any kind of endorsement of the normality of our situation. I will not attend the inauguration,” Raskin said in a statement.
Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.):
Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.):
“A real president doesn’t attack the press because they ask tough questions,” Ruiz told the Desert Sun. “A real president doesn’t insult and bully celebrities or everyday Americans because they disagree with him.”
Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.):
“I’m just not a big Trump fan,” Schrader told Oregon Public Broadcasting. “He hasn’t proved himself to me at all yet, so I respectfully decline to freeze my ass out there in the cold for this particular ceremony.”
Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-N.H.):
Rep. José E. Serrano (D-N.Y.):
I will not attend the #inauguration2017 next week- cannot celebrate the inauguration of a man who has no regard for my constituents. #Bronx
Rep. Louise M. Slaughter (D-N.Y.):
Will not attend, per the Democrat & Chronicle.
Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.):
“As the House of Representatives is not in session the week of Inauguration, Congressman Smith will spend the District Work Period at home in Washington state meeting with his constituents,” a representative for the congressman said in a statement to Seattle NBC affiliate KING 5 News.
Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.):
“I am deeply disappointed with Trump’s attacks against civil rights hero John Lewis and will not be attending the inauguration as a result,” Soto told Orlando ABC affiliate WFTV-Channel 9.
Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.):
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.):
Will not attend, per the Clarion-Ledger.
Rep. Juan Vargas (D-Calif.):
Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.):
.@repjohnlewis is a national hero and I stand with him! I also am not attending inauguration given the tone of @realDonaldTrump's campaign
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.):
I never ever contemplated attending the inauguration or any activities associated w/ @realDonaldTrump. I wouldn't waste my time.
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.):
I do not intend to attend the inauguration of PE @realDonaldTrump. Instead, join me for an Interfaith Prayer Vigil.
Rep. Frederica S. Wilson (D-Fla.):
Congresswoman @RepWilson tells me she will not attend @realDonaldTrump inauguration because of a wedding that day. @wsvn
Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Ky.):
“For the last ten weeks, President-elect Trump has continually denigrated the office of the President by using his bully pulpit for insult and ridicule,” Yarmuth said in a statement. “This is not normal. It is an embarrassment to our country and to the office of the presidency, and we must send the message that this behavior is not acceptable from the leader of our nation. Not attending the Inauguration is one way for me to do that.”
Jenna Portnoy contributed to this report.
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