Tonight’s State of the Union Boycott Might Be the Largest of its Kind
Members are wearing black to tonight’s #SOTU to say #TimesUp on sexual harassment. #SOTUBlackout pic.twitter.com/SuQNL4VWf2
— House Democrats (@HouseDemocrats) January 30, 2018
Tonight, Donald Trump will deliver his first State of the Union address. As of now, 13 Democrats are planning to boycott. According to CNN, that’s the largest-ever boycott of its type. Previously, the largest number of lawmakers to ever skip the SOTU was 12, in 1971, when the entire Congressional Black Caucus did not attend after Richard Nixon reportedly refused a meeting with them.
But boycotts of the SOTU are rare. Here are the twelve lawmakers planning to make a statement with their absence tonight:
John Lewis
Lewis told MSNBC, “At this junction, I do not plan to attend the State of the Union.” After Trump’s reported “shithole countries” remarks regarding immigration from African nations as well as countries like El Salvador and Haiti, Lewis said, “I cannot in all good conscience be in a room with what he has said about so many Americans. I just cannot do it. I wouldn’t be honest with myself.”
Rep. Maxine Waters
Speaking to @JoyAnnReid on @allinwithchris, Rep. Maxine Waters says she will not be attending Pres. Trump’s State of the Union address this month. https://t.co/sy8e66fFEl #inners #11MSNBC pic.twitter.com/pzhO0OWjlz
— 11th Hour (@11thHour) January 13, 2018
Waters says Trump does not deserve her attention. “Why would I take my time to go and sit and listen to a liar?”
Rep. Frederica Wilson
Wilson also referenced Trump’s racist comments in explaining her reasons for boycotting.
I cannot in good consciousness attend the #SOTU address after the president went so low in his remarks about Haiti & African nations. It would be hypocrisy to go to an event at which he is honored.
— Rep Frederica Wilson (@RepWilson) January 16, 2018
Rep. Earl Blumenauer
Rather than listening to another destructive, divisive speech by Trump, I will not attend this year’s annual address to Congress. Instead, like I did during his inauguration, I'll be working at home listening to Oregonians about what they think about the State of the Union! #SOTU
— Earl Blumenauer (@repblumenauer) January 5, 2018
Blumenauer will be sending Aldo Solano, a DACA recipient, in his place.
I am delighted to send Aldo Solano to attend Trump's State of the Union address in my place. Trump's disastrous policies have destroyed lives and impact real people who call our country home. We can't let Aldo down. pic.twitter.com/GkSvmUKH0z
— Earl Blumenauer (@repblumenauer) January 26, 2018
Many other lawmakers are bringing Dreamers as their guest to the event, prompting Arizona’s Rep. Paul Gosar to call for the arrest and deportation of any undocumented immigrants in attendance.
Rep. Gregory W. Meeks
ICYMI: I announced I will not attend Trump’s State of the Union.
He does not respect me or the communities I represent, so I cannot in good conscience sit idly on the House floor and listen to his scripted speech. #SOTU pic.twitter.com/7fDrnB9Mfj
— Gregory Meeks (@RepGregoryMeeks) January 29, 2018
Rep. Jan Schakowsky
I refuse to normalize President Donald Trump and his loathsome language and actions. https://t.co/MpFhxZzXSj
— Jan Schakowsky (@RepSchakowsky) January 27, 2018
Rep. Bobby L. Rush
.@RepBobbyRush to boycott Trump’s State of the Union speech because his presidency is “built on racism, stupidity, and lies.” https://t.co/LOpXhIrOHz pic.twitter.com/0q2PzQpLGE
— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) January 29, 2018
Rep. Pramila Jayapa
If I felt that attending @realDonaldTrump‘s State of the Union advanced the interests of Washington’s 7th District, the United States, or the global community to which we are so interconnected, I would be there.
But it doesn’t. Here is why. https://t.co/XvUlUHdgmX
— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) January 17, 2018
Rep. Danny K. Davis
I will be meeting with constituents tomorrow…here’s why.
REP. DAVIS NOT ATTENDING THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS https://t.co/gQrl7FNTDz— Rep. Danny K. Davis (@RepDannyDavis) January 29, 2018
Rep. Steve Cohen
“I hope he says ‘I resign’” — in response to a question from @FOX13Memphis‘s @DoreyScheimer, asking what I’d like to hear from #Trump in tonight’s #SOTU @funder #StateOfTheUnion #womenssotu #ImpeachTrump
— Steve Cohen (@RepCohen) January 30, 2018
Albio Sires
Tonight I will be on @NJTVNews @Telemundo @News12NJ & @CNNEspanol discussing my decision to not attend the State of the Union. I hope the President comes to understand that we want a leader who stands up for every American.
— Albio Sires (@RepSires) January 30, 2018
Re. Juan Vargas
.@POTUS continues to disrespect women, insult people of color, and attack our immigrant communities. I will not be attending the State of the Union—I stand in solidarity with all the people he has and continues to disrespect. #SOTU
— Rep. Juan Vargas (@RepJuanVargas) January 29, 2018
Rep. Barbara Lee
Since my election to Congress, I’ve attended every #SOTU because I respect the office of the Presidency. This year, I will not attend. President Trump has dishonored the Oval Office. Read my full statement ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/2t4NsmIPaq
— Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) January 30, 2018
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will also be skipping Trump’s speech. (Although the late Justice Antonin Scalia had not attended a SOTU address in nearly 20 years.)
Other lawmakers are choosing alternate forms of protest while still attending the event. Joe Kennedy will be bringing as his guest Army Staff Sgt. Patricia King, a transgender soldier.
We’re cheering on Army Staff Sgt. Patricia King—a #Massachusetts native and openly #trans soldier—who will be attending tomorrow’s #SOTU with @joekennedy: https://t.co/7urFYi0CoI #MAPoli #TransLawMA pic.twitter.com/JQ8H3DjQyW
— Freedom for All MA (@Freedom_Mass) January 29, 2018
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is bringing San Juan’s mayor, Carmen Yulin Cruz.
It is an honor to announce that Mayor @CarmenYulinCruz of San Juan, Puerto Rico will join me at the #SOTU. Throughout the crisis in Puerto Rico, Mayor Cruz has shown extraordinary leadership and fearless advocacy for her city.
— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) January 29, 2018
I hope Mayor Cruz’s presence at #SOTU will remind the president and my colleagues in Congress of our urgent responsibility to help Puerto Rico fully recover and rebuild. Our fellow citizens must not be forgotten or left behind.
— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) January 29, 2018
An honor to represent thousands in San Juan and more in Puerto Rico who still have no electricity and fight everyday for a better today.
— Carmen Yulín Cruz (@CarmenYulinCruz) January 29, 2018
Many female Democrats are choosing to bring survivors of sexual assault, including Chessy Prout (a guest of Rep. Anne McLane Kuster), the teenage victim of the Owen Labrie prep school rape case, as well as Rose Gunter (guest of Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman), the niece of Recy Taylor.
Many others are choosing to simply wear black as a form of silent protest.
I wore black today to stand with workers demanding dignified, equal workplaces free of harassment across all industries. #SOTUBLACKOUT pic.twitter.com/xbUtX6k9N9
— Rep Frederica Wilson (@RepWilson) January 30, 2018
Some of these female lawmakers, along with a number of other activists including Ai-jen Poo, Tarana Burke, and Planned Parenthood’s Cecile Richards, will be hosting an alternate event, dubbed The State of OUR Union.
I was invited to attend the State of the Union address by @JackieSpeier – who I respect, but had to decline. My fellow Movement sisters @aijenpoo & @monica_promumi were also invited and declined. Instead we are hosting the State of OUR Union. Join us: https://t.co/gqIjUbOV4m
— Tarana (@TaranaBurke) January 29, 2018
You can live stream that event at TheStateofOurUnion.org.
(image: Shutterstock)
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