In protest against President-elect Donald Trump’s contentious policies, numerous scandals, and recent disparaging comments against Rep. John Lewis over Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend, nearly 60 Democratic legislators plan to boycott Trump’s inauguration on Friday. After Trump tweeted that Rep. Lewis was “all talk” with “no action or results,” dozens of lawmakers joined the civil rights icon in protest against Trump’s inauguration.
During a recent interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Lewis told Chuck Todd that he did not see Trump as a legitimate president. Lewis elaborated, “I think the Russians participated in helping this man get elected. And they helped destroy the candidacy of Hillary Clinton.”
In response, Trump took to Twitter and wrote, “Congressman John Lewis should spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart (not to mention crime infested) rather than falsely complaining about the election results. All talk, talk, talk – no action or results. Sad!”
Recognized as “one of the most courageous persons the Civil Rights Movement ever produced,” Lewis repeatedly placed his life on the line enduring savage beatings from racist mobs and law enforcement officers, including a fractured skull during a peaceful protest in Selma, Alabama on March 7, 1965. Besides working with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. towards achieving civil rights through nonviolence, Lewis eventually became a member of the U.S. House of Representatives in 1987.
Lewis also boycotted George W. Bush’s inauguration in 2001, after Bush won the election but lost the popular vote. During that inauguration, thousands of protesters arrived with some throwing eggs and other items at Bush’s limousine.
At least 59 House Democrats have announced that they will not attend Trump’s inauguration on Friday. Even Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Republican Governor of Illinois Bruce Rauner declared they will not attend the inauguration.
The list of House Democrats who plan to boycott Trump’s inauguration includes:
- Rep. Alma Adams, D-NC
- Rep. Karen Bass, D-CA
- Rep. Don Beyer, D-VA
- Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-OR
- Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-PA
- Rep. Anthony Brown, D-MD
- Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-NC
- Rep. Tony Cardenas, D-CA
- Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-TX
- Rep. Judy Chu, D-CA
- Rep. Katherine Clark, D-MA
- Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-NY
- Rep. William Lacy Clay, D-MO
- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-TN
- Rep. John Conyers Jr., D-MI
- Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-OR
- Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, D-CA
- Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-TX
- Rep. Mike Doyle, D-PA
- Rep. Keith Ellison, D-MN
- Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-NY
- Rep. Dwight Evans, D-PA
- Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-OH
- Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-AZ
- Rep. Al Green, D-TX
- Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-AZ
- Rep. Luis Gutiérrez, D-IL
- Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-FL
- Rep. Jared Huffman, D-CA
- Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-WA
- Rep. Barbara Lee, D-CA
- Rep. John Lewis, D-GA
- Rep. Ted Lieu, D-CA
- Rep. Dan Lipinski, D-IL
- Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-CA
- Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-CA
- Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-NY
- Rep. Grace Napolitano, D-CA
- Rep. Donald Payne, D-NJ
- Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-ME
- Rep. Mark Pocan, D-WI
- Rep. Mike Quigley, D-IL
- Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-MD
- Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-CA
- Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-CA
- Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-OR
- Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, D-NH
- Rep. José Serrano, D-NY
- Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-NY
- Rep. Adam Smith, D-WA
- Rep. Darren Soto, D-FL
- Rep. Mark Takano, D-CA
- Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-MS
- Rep. Juan Vargas, D-CA
- Rep. Nydia Velázquez, D-NY
- Rep. Maxine Waters, D-CA
- Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-NJ
- Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-FL
- Rep. John Yarmuth, D-KY
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