A growing group of Democratic lawmakers will boycott President-elect Donald Trump\u2019s inauguration Friday as a protest of Trump\u2019s worldview and his criticism of civil rights icon John Lewis, congressman of Georgia.
As of this morning, there are now 41 House Democrats \u2014 including three Pennsylvania Democrats \u2014 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 is \u201call talk, talk\u201d and should \u201cfinally focus on the burning and crime infested inner-cities.\u201d
Lewis, who sees Trump\u2019s Nov. 8 win as illegitimate because of Russia\u2019s 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., in which state troopers brutally attacked the crowd. Lewis will not attend the inauguration, he told NBC News in an interview for Sunday\u2019s \u201cMeet the Press.\u201d
Here\u2019s a list of lawmakers who will not attend:
\u201cI #StandWithJohnLewis. I will not be attending the inauguration. Russian hacking must be investigated and I do not support the repeal of ACA\u201d
Mr. Evans represents the Second Congressional District in Pennsylvania, which includes parts of West, North, and Northwest Philadelphia and Montgomery County.
Monday night, Mr. Boyle announced on his Facebook page that he would join the boycott.
„As I wrote last March, I believe Donald Trump is a unique threat to the Constitution and to our country. I have never before used such stark terms to describe an American political leader, Democrat or Republican. I do not use these words lightly. But Trump warrants such dramatic description,“ Boyle wrote.
The congressman, who represents parts of Northeast Philadelphia and eastern Montgomery County, said he attended the joint session of Congress earlier this month to certify the results of the Electoral College.
„As vehemently as I disagree with the election results, I fulfilled my constitutional obligation,“ he wrote. „Now the question turns to whether to attend the Inaugural celebration. „
Boyle said he believed the inauguration should be a nonpolitical day, but he struggled with the idea of celebrating what he believed to be a grave mistake. He decided he could not.
Mr. Brady, the chairman of the city Democratic Party, told 6ABC and CBS3 that he also would not attend.
Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif., whose spokesman confirmed her decision in an email.
Bass had asked constituents to vote about the inauguration on Twitter:
\u201cI want to hear directly from my constituents! Do you guys think I should attend the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump?\u201d
\u201cI just told hundreds of my constituents that I will not be attending the Inauguration Ceremony this coming Friday.\u201d
\u201cThere is unprecedented concern by my constituents about the many threats posed by a Trump administration seeking to implement the President-elect\u2019s policies on health, environment, nuclear weapons, and immigration, to name but a few.
\u201cI will forgo the inauguration, spending the day instead in my district talking with Oregonians to hear their priorities, try to answer their questions, and prepare for the coming assault on the values and programs we hold dear.
\u201cIt is hard to think of a better use of my time on January 20th.\u201d
\u201cSkipping Inauguration.@RepJohnLewis a civil rights hero. Enormous responsibility to be POTUS. I respect the office, can\u2019t tolerate disrespect\u201d
\u201cAfter much thought, I have decided to #StandWithJohnLewis and not attend the inauguration.\u201d
\u201cI will NOT attend the inauguration of @realDonaldTrump. When you insult @repjohnlewis, you insult America.\u201d
\u201cA spokesman told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that Clay will be \u201cback home in St. Louis speaking to school kids.\u201d
\u201cAnnounced @ Mason Temple, #MLK final speech, that I won\u2019t attend #inauguration out of respect for @repjohnlewis & for unpresidential remarks\u201d
\u201cAgree with VP Biden that it\u2019s time for Trump to grow up. Being POTUS is a serious matter — not child\u2019s play. I stand w\/ @repjohnlewis (3\/3)\u201d
\u201cDeFazio typically avoids \u2018pomp and circumstance events in Washington,\u2018 he said in a statement to Oregon Public Broadcasting.\u201d
\u201cIt is with a heavy heart and deep personal conviction that I have decided not to attend the #TrumpInauguration on January 20, 2017.\u201d
\u201cI will not celebrate a man who preaches a politics of division and hate. I won\u2019t be attending Donald Trump\u2019s inauguration.\u201d
\u201cI will NOT be attending the inauguration for @realDonaldTrump!\u201d
\u201cAs I told @JoyAnnReid, I will not be attending #Inauguration. I will be at home in Cleveland. #IStandWithJohnLewis\u201d
\u201cVIDEO: Rep. Ra\u00fal M. Grijalva, D-Ariz., discusses why he is not attending President Elect Donald #Trump\u2019s inauguration next week. pic.twitter.com\/PXvDVshjpH\u201d
\u201cAppreciate @marinij article on my decision to do service events instead of attend @realDonaldTrump inauguration https:\/\/t.co\/CA1q8tOzNG\u201d
\u201cI will not be attending Trump\u2019s inauguration. I will be with the people of my district. #OurFirstStand pic.twitter.com\/TmCodl5w9t\u201d
\u201cInauguration should be a celebration. But we have nothing to celebrate on Jan 20. Instead of attending, I will be organizing. pic.twitter.com\/P4whhl91ll\u201d
\u201cMr. Lieu\u2019s statement on why he won\u2019t be attending the Inauguration of @realDonaldTrump READ HERE: https:\/\/t.co\/tx94zqE4rp\u201d
\u201cI acknowledge the fact that he is the incoming president, but I\u2019m not in the mood to celebrate that fact,\u201d Lofgren told the Los Angeles Times.
\u201cThe rhetoric + actions of @realDonaldTrump have been so far beyond the pale, I cannot in good conscience participate in this inauguration.\u201d
\u201cAt MLK Day dinner in Portland, I announced that I would not attend Trump\u2019s inauguration. Here\u2019s why: https:\/\/t.co\/4P35Mi8rf4#mepolitics\u201d
\u201cAfter reading classified Russian hacking doc & @realDonaldTrump offensive tweets to @repjohnlewis I will not be attending the Inauguration.\u201d
\u201cBREAKING: Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA) will not attend inauguration, her office tells me in an statement. @RepRoybalAllard pic.twitter.com\/eWdOq9t3UX\u201d
\u201cA real president doesn\u2019t attack the press because they ask tough questions,\u201d Ruiz told the Desert Sun. \u201cA real president doesn\u2019t insult and bully celebrities or everyday Americans because they disagree with him.\u201d
\u201cI\u2019m just not a big Trump fan,\u201d Schrader told Oregon Public Broadcasting. \u201cHe hasn\u2019t proved himself to me at all yet, so I respectfully decline to freeze my ass out there in the cold for this particular ceremony.\u201d
\u201cI will not attend the #inauguration2017 next week- cannot celebrate the inauguration of a man who has no regard for my constituents. #Bronx pic.twitter.com\/Uz3NTgXl35\u201d
\u201cAs 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,\u201d a represenative for the congressman said in a statement to Seattle NBC affiliate KING 5 News.
\u201cI am deeply disappointed with Trump\u2019s attacks against civil rights hero John Lewis and will not be attending the inauguration as a result,\u201d Soto told Orlando ABC affiliate WFTV Channel 9.
\u201cI stand with @repjohnlewis and I will not be attending the inauguration.
\u201c.@repjohnlewis is a national hero and I stand with him! I also am not attending inauguration given the tone of @realDonaldTrump\u2019s campaign\u201d
\u201cI never ever contemplated attending the inauguration or any activities associated w\/ @realDonaldTrump. I wouldn\u2019t waste my time.\u201d
\u201cI do not intend to attend the inauguration of PE @realDonaldTrump. Instead, join me for an Interfaith Prayer Vigil. pic.twitter.com\/c5aJYEQOUW\u201d
\u201cCongresswoman @RepWilson tells me she will not attend @realDonaldTrump inauguration because of a wedding that day. @wsvn\u201d
\u201cFor the last 10 weeks, President-elect Trump has continually denigrated the office of the President by using his bully pulpit for insult and ridicule,\u201d Yarmuth said in a statement. \u201cThis 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

\nSimilarity rank: 14\n<\/div>\n

Sentiment rank: 0<\/div>\n

\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n