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 50 House Democrats — 49, 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” 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., in 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.):
Today I released the following statement about the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/gJsFkO55Me
— Alma S. Adams (@RepAdams) January 17, 2017
Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.):
After receiving an overwhelming response on the twitter poll, I’ve decided not to attend the inauguration of President-elect Trump. pic.twitter.com/ig4kFn0GGH
— Congressmember Bass (@RepKarenBass) January 17, 2017
Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.):
I just told hundreds of my constituents that I will not be attending the Inauguration Ceremony this coming Friday. Here is what I said: pic.twitter.com/YLJz5OWjXe
— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) January 16, 2017
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.):
Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.):
Rep. Anthony Brown (D-Md.):
Skipping Inauguration. @RepJohnLewis a civil rights hero. Enormous responsibility to be POTUS. I respect the office, can’t tolerate disrespect
— Anthony G. Brown (@AnthonyBrownMD4) January 16, 2017
Rep. G. K. Butterfield (D-N. C.):
After prayerful consideration, I cannot in good conscious attend the inaugural ceremony for President-elect Donald Trump. (1/3)
— G. K. Butterfield (@GKButterfield) January 17, 2017
Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas):
“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.
— Judy Chu (@RepJudyChu) January 15, 2017
Rep. Katherine M. Clark (D-Mass.):
My statement on the upcoming inauguration: pic.twitter.com/dQXE0ztvTf
— Katherine Clark (@RepKClark) January 5, 2017
Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (D-N. Y.):
I will NOT attend the inauguration of @realDonaldTrump. When you insult @repjohnlewis , you insult America.
— Yvette D. Clarke (@RepYvetteClarke) January 14, 2017
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
— Steve Cohen (@RepCohen) January 16, 2017
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)
— John Conyers, Jr. (@RepJohnConyers) January 14, 2017
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.
— Mark DeSaulnier (@RepDeSaulnier) January 14, 2017
Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.):
I will not celebrate a man who preaches a politics of division and hate. I won’t be attending Donald Trump’s inauguration.
— Rep. Keith Ellison (@keithellison) January 16, 2017
Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N. Y.):
I will NOT be attending the inauguration for @realDonaldTrump!
— Adriano Espaillat (@RepEspaillat) January 15, 2017
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
— Dwight Evans (@RepDwightEvans) January 16, 2017
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. Marcia L. Fudge (@RepMarciaFudge) January 15, 2017
Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.):
We must stand against Trump’s bigotries- birther conspiracies, attacks on Gold⭐️ parents & civil rights heroes. I won’t attend inauguration.
— Ruben Gallego (@RepRubenGallego) January 17, 2017
Rep. Al Green (D-Texas):
Congressman Al Green’s Statement on the 2017 Presidential Inauguration: https://t.co/QTww2wasHT
— Congressman Al Green (@RepAlGreen) January 17, 2017
Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.):
VIDEO: Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva, D-Ariz., discusses why he is not attending President Elect Donald #Trump ‘s inauguration next week. pic.twitter.com/PXvDVshjpH
— azcentral (@azcentral) January 15, 2017
Rep. Luis V. Gutiérrez (D-Ill.):
Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.):
Appreciate @marinij article on my decision to do service events instead of attend @realDonaldTrump inauguration https://t.co/CA1q8tOzNG
— Jared Huffman (@JaredHuffman) January 10, 2017
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.):
I will not be attending Trump’s inauguration. I will be with the people of my district. #OurFirstStand pic.twitter.com/TmCodl5w9t
— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) January 15, 2017
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.):
Inauguration should be a celebration. But we have nothing to celebrate on Jan 20. Instead of attending, I will be organizing. pic.twitter.com/P4whhl91ll
— Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) January 12, 2017
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: https://t.co/tx94zqE4rp
— Rep. Ted Lieu (@RepTedLieu) January 14, 2017
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. Nadler))) (@RepJerryNadler) January 16, 2017
Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.):
Will not attend, per the Los Angeles Times .
Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine):
At MLK Day dinner in Portland, I announced that I would not attend Trump’s inauguration. Here’s why: https://t.co/4P35Mi8rf4 #mepolitics
— Chellie Pingree (@chelliepingree) January 17, 2017
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