WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Reps. Anthony Brown and Jamie Raskin of Maryland are joining the growing list of Democrats who plan to boycott President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration Friday.
Brown, who represents suburban Washington in Maryland’s 4th Congressional District, said Monday that he would be skipping the inauguration. Raskin, who also represents suburban Washington in Maryland’s 8th Congressional District, says he’s skipping it, too. More than 30 House Democrats plan to do so.
The number of lawmakers who have pledged not to attend increased after Trump lashed out at Democratic U.S. Rep. John Lewis of Georgia on Saturday for challenging Trump’s legitimacy to be president.
In a Facebook post, Brown called Lewis a civil rights hero. He said that Trump’s “verbal attack” on Lewis showed a disregard for the office Trump will soon hold.
On Wednesday, Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Virginia, said that he wouldn’t be attending either. In a statement, he said of Trump, “His behavior and harmful words during and after the campaign have left the country I love with open, bleeding wounds. Instead of binding those wounds, he has poured salt on them.”
He cited Trump’s statements about minorities, immigrants and women; his attitude toward Russian president Vladimir Putin, his attacks on the media and more, and said, “How can I celebrate that? The sordid aspects of his behavior must not become the new normal for America or her presidents.”
I will not attend Inauguration. My full statement:https://t.co/RMWFPWxCo7 pic.twitter.com/f3chbID9MA
— Gerry Connolly (@GerryConnolly) January 18, 2017
Virginia Democrat Don Beyer also announced he wouldn’t be attending, saying on Monday night, “Yes, I treasure the peaceful transfer of power. Yes, I will respect the constitutional prerogatives of the presidency. But … [i]t would be the height of hypocrisy for me to pretend to be part of this inaugural celebration.”
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
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