On Friday, January 20, 2017,
Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th President of the United
States of America. However, since he emerged as President – Elect, his
brash comments on social media has won him more enemies that friends.
Consequently, a
growing number of Democratic lawmakers are boycotting his inauguration, particularly after revelations of Russia’s
alleged meddling in the 2016 election and his rebuke of civil rights
icon John Lewis.
Some
members of Congress have said they will be protesting in Washington,
D.C., and in their districts instead.
members of Congress have said they will be protesting in Washington,
D.C., and in their districts instead.
Here’s a list of Democrats who
have publicly said they won’t be at Friday’s ceremony:
California Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard
“I
thought long and hard about attending the Inauguration because I value
our democracy and respect the office of the presidency, regardless of
party. However, the disparaging remarks the President-elect has made
about many groups, including women, Mexicans, and Muslims, are deeply
contrary to my values. As a result, I will not be attending the
Inauguration,” Roybal-Allard said in a statement Sunday.
thought long and hard about attending the Inauguration because I value
our democracy and respect the office of the presidency, regardless of
party. However, the disparaging remarks the President-elect has made
about many groups, including women, Mexicans, and Muslims, are deeply
contrary to my values. As a result, I will not be attending the
Inauguration,” Roybal-Allard said in a statement Sunday.
Georgia Rep. John Lewis
The
civil rights icon declared last week that he would boycott the event
because he doesn’t see Trump as a “legitimate” president in light of
Russian interference.
civil rights icon declared last week that he would boycott the event
because he doesn’t see Trump as a “legitimate” president in light of
Russian interference.
“You cannot be at home with something that you feel that is wrong,” Lewis told NBC News.
.
California Rep. Mark Takano
“‘All talk, no action.’ I stand with @repjohnlewis and I will not be attending the inauguration,” Takano tweeted Saturday.
New York Rep. Yvette Clarke
“I will NOT attend the inauguration of @realDonaldTrump. When you insult @repjohnlewis, you insult America.”
California Rep. Ted Lieu
“For
me, the personal decision not to attend Inauguration is quite simple:
Do I stand with Donald Trump, or do I stand with John Lewis? I am
standing with John Lewis,” Lieu said in a statement released by his office.
me, the personal decision not to attend Inauguration is quite simple:
Do I stand with Donald Trump, or do I stand with John Lewis? I am
standing with John Lewis,” Lieu said in a statement released by his office.
Arizona Rep. Raul Grijalva
“I
will not be attending the inauguration of Donald Trump as our next
president,” the Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chair said Friday on
the House floor. “My absence is not motivated by disrespect for the
office or motivated by disrespect for the government that we have in
this great democracy, but as an individual act, yes, of defiance at the
disrespect shown to millions and millions of Americans by this incoming
administration, and the actions we are taking in this Congress.”
will not be attending the inauguration of Donald Trump as our next
president,” the Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chair said Friday on
the House floor. “My absence is not motivated by disrespect for the
office or motivated by disrespect for the government that we have in
this great democracy, but as an individual act, yes, of defiance at the
disrespect shown to millions and millions of Americans by this incoming
administration, and the actions we are taking in this Congress.”
Michigan Rep. John Conyers
The office of Conyers, the dean of the United House of Representatives, confirmed to CNN he won’t be attending the inauguration.
California Rep. Mark DeSaulnier
“It
is with a heavy heart and deep personal conviction that I have decided
not to attend the #TrumpInauguration on January 20, 2017,” the
California lawmaker tweeted Friday.
is with a heavy heart and deep personal conviction that I have decided
not to attend the #TrumpInauguration on January 20, 2017,” the
California lawmaker tweeted Friday.
New York Rep. Nydia Velazquez
Velazquez
tweeted Friday that she will be participating in a women’s march
protesting policies that activists say are harmful to American women.
tweeted Friday that she will be participating in a women’s march
protesting policies that activists say are harmful to American women.
“I
will not be attending inauguration of @realDonaldTrump but WILL
participate in the @womensmarch on January 21st,” she tweeted.
will not be attending inauguration of @realDonaldTrump but WILL
participate in the @womensmarch on January 21st,” she tweeted.
Oregon Rep. Kurt Schrader
“I’m just not a big Trump fan. I’ve met the guy and never been impressed with him,” he told Oregon Public Broadcasting Friday.
“I’ll do my best to work with him when I think he’s doing the right
thing for the country. But 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.”
“I’ll do my best to work with him when I think he’s doing the right
thing for the country. But 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.”
Missouri Rep. William Lacy Clay
The lawmaker’s spokesperson told the St. Louis Post Dispatch that Clay will be in his home state speaking to schoolchildren.
California Rep. Barbara Lee
Lee said she’ll spend the day “preparing for resistance.”
“Donald
Trump has proven that his administration will normalize the most
extreme fringes of the Republican Party. On Inauguration Day, I will not
be celebrating. I will be organizing and preparing for resistance,” she
said Thursday in a statement.
Trump has proven that his administration will normalize the most
extreme fringes of the Republican Party. On Inauguration Day, I will not
be celebrating. I will be organizing and preparing for resistance,” she
said Thursday in a statement.
New York Rep. Jose Serrano
“I
will not attend the #inauguration2017 next week- cannot celebrate the
inauguration of a man who has no regard for my constituents. #Bronx,” he
tweeted Thursday.
will not attend the #inauguration2017 next week- cannot celebrate the
inauguration of a man who has no regard for my constituents. #Bronx,” he
tweeted Thursday.
California Rep. Judy Chu
“After much thought, I have decided to #StandWithJohnLewis and not attend the inauguration,” Chu tweeted this weekend..
Illinois Rep. Luis Gutierrez
“I
cannot go to (the) inauguration of a man who’s going to appoint people
to the Supreme Court and turn back the clock on women and turn back the
clock on immigrants and the safety and freedom that we fought for them,”
Gutierrez said last month on CNN’s “New Day.”
cannot go to (the) inauguration of a man who’s going to appoint people
to the Supreme Court and turn back the clock on women and turn back the
clock on immigrants and the safety and freedom that we fought for them,”
Gutierrez said last month on CNN’s “New Day.”
California Rep. Jared Huffman
“I
have decided that instead of attending the inaugural ceremonies in
Washington this month, I’ll spend time in California with my
constituents making a positive difference in our community,” he wrote on
Facebook Tuesday. “From helping to build homes for local families to
pitching in on cleaning up flood debris to welcoming new US citizens at a
naturalization ceremony — it will be an action-packed couple of days.
Stay tuned here for more details.”
have decided that instead of attending the inaugural ceremonies in
Washington this month, I’ll spend time in California with my
constituents making a positive difference in our community,” he wrote on
Facebook Tuesday. “From helping to build homes for local families to
pitching in on cleaning up flood debris to welcoming new US citizens at a
naturalization ceremony — it will be an action-packed couple of days.
Stay tuned here for more details.”
Massachusetts Rep. Katherine Clark
“I
support the peaceful transition of power, but I don’t feel that I need
to attend the pageantry associated with and for this president,” she told the Boston Globe earlier this month.
support the peaceful transition of power, but I don’t feel that I need
to attend the pageantry associated with and for this president,” she told the Boston Globe earlier this month.
Oregon Rep. Earl Blumenauer
“There
is unprecedented concern by my constituents about the many threats
posed by a Trump administration seeking to implement the
President-elect’s policies on health, environment, nuclear weapons and
immigration, to name but a few,” he said on Facebook.
is unprecedented concern by my constituents about the many threats
posed by a Trump administration seeking to implement the
President-elect’s policies on health, environment, nuclear weapons and
immigration, to name but a few,” he said on Facebook.
New York Rep. Adriano Espaillat
“Many
have given their lives and dedicated their lives to working to fulfill
Dr. King’s dream and make it a reality, and it is up to us to preserve
his legacy and the legacy of President Barack Obama to ensure that we do
not go back in time! President-elect Donald Trump is trying to take us
back! And the people Trump is appointing– Steve Bannon, Jeff Sessions
— are trying to take us back!
have given their lives and dedicated their lives to working to fulfill
Dr. King’s dream and make it a reality, and it is up to us to preserve
his legacy and the legacy of President Barack Obama to ensure that we do
not go back in time! President-elect Donald Trump is trying to take us
back! And the people Trump is appointing– Steve Bannon, Jeff Sessions
— are trying to take us back!
“That’s
why I am not attending the presidential inauguration. Donald Trump and
the hate-filled rhetoric that plagued his election simply will continue
in his administration. THIS is not Dr. King’s Dream!” Espaillat issued
the statement on his Facebook page.
why I am not attending the presidential inauguration. Donald Trump and
the hate-filled rhetoric that plagued his election simply will continue
in his administration. THIS is not Dr. King’s Dream!” Espaillat issued
the statement on his Facebook page.
Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal
.@realDonaldTrump:
@repjohnlewis stands for best of everything in America. If anyone knows
about action not words, it’s him. #ImWithJohn
@repjohnlewis stands for best of everything in America. If anyone knows
about action not words, it’s him. #ImWithJohn
Wisconsin Rep. Mark Pocan
“After reading classified
Russian hacking doc & @realDonaldTrump offensive tweets to
@repjohnlewis I will not be attending the Inauguration.”
Russian hacking doc & @realDonaldTrump offensive tweets to
@repjohnlewis I will not be attending the Inauguration.”
Ohio Rep. Marcia Fudge
“As I told @JoyAnnReid, I will not be attending #Inauguration. I will be at home in Cleveland. #IStandWithJohnLewis.”
California Rep. Maxine Waters
“I never ever contemplated
attending the inauguration or any activities associated w/
@realDonaldTrump. I wouldn’t waste my time.”
attending the inauguration or any activities associated w/
@realDonaldTrump. I wouldn’t waste my time.”
