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.
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., during 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
— Rep. Alma 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 G. 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 (@BrownforMD) 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. Michael Capuano (D-Mass.):
Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-Calif.):
“After serious consideration, I have decided that I will not stand with Donald Trump during his ceremonial inauguration . . . I feel this decision best represents my family, constituents, and country,” Cardenas said in a statement.
Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Tex.):
“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. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.):
“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,” Connolly said in a statement.
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. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas):
I will not be attending the inauguration this Friday. Read my statement here. pic.twitter.com/4gt6AA4u16
— Lloyd Doggett (@RepLloydDoggett) January 17, 2017
Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.):
I’m going to #StandWithJohnLewis. I won’t attend the Inauguration on Friday.
— Mike Doyle (@USRepMikeDoyle) January 17, 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.
— 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
— Congressman 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
— Former 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-Tex.):
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. Alcee L. Hastings (D-Fla.):
Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.):
Appreciate @marinij article on my decision to do service events instead of attend @realDonaldTrump inauguration https://t.co/CA1q8tOzNG
— Rep. 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. Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.):
Will not attend, per the Chicago Tribune.
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. Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.):
Respect must be earned. Read my statement on not attending inauguration. https://t.co/Bf88ZFJGsd
— Rep. Alan Lowenthal (@RepLowenthal) January 18, 2017
Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.):
“The President-elect must get the message that his antagonistic and divisive comments are unacceptable. We cannot tolerate attacks on women, minorities or a civil rights icon,” Meng said in a statement.
Rep. A. Donald McEachin (D-Va.):
“I have never seen a campaign that was based so much on hatred. I have never seen a campaign where a foreign power intervened to get one candidate elected and where the candidate did not even acknowledge, let alone condemn this behavior. I’m not sure what there is to celebrate.
“The continued hatred and insults even long after the campaign is over is unacceptable. He should have begun to bring people together the day after the election, and he has not started yet. I have a train ticket, but unfortunately, it has come to this.
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 F. Napolitano (D-Calif.):
Will not attend, per the Los Angeles Times.
Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (D-N.J.):
“I will not celebrate [Trump’s] swearing-in to an office that he has proven unfit to hold,” Payne said in a statement.
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
— Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (@chelliepingree) January 17, 2017
Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.):
After reading classified Russian hacking doc & @realDonaldTrump offensive tweets to @repjohnlewis I will not be attending the Inauguration. pic.twitter.com/wrEeGfqjrZ
— Rep. Mark Pocan (@repmarkpocan) January 15, 2017
Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.):
Will not attend, per the Chicago Tribune.
Rep. Jamie B. Raskin (D-Md.):
“I cannot risk my presence at his inauguration being interpreted as any kind of endorsement of the normality of our situation. I will not attend the inauguration,” Raskin said in a statement.
Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.):
I will not be attending the Inauguration. Here is my statement. pic.twitter.com/OoPFupQLqq
— Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (@RepRoybalAllard) January 17, 2017
Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.):
“A real president doesn’t attack the press because they ask tough questions,” Ruiz told the Desert Sun. “A real president doesn’t insult and bully celebrities or everyday Americans because they disagree with him.”
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.):
I have decided to join the growing group of my colleagues who will boycott this Friday's Inauguration. pic.twitter.com/5HZt70ZFm9
— Jan Schakowsky (@janschakowsky) January 18, 2017
Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.):
“I’m just not a big Trump fan,” Schrader told Oregon Public Broadcasting. “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.”
Rep. José E. Serrano (D-N.Y.):
I will not attend the #inauguration2017 next week- cannot celebrate the inauguration of a man who has no regard for my constituents. #Bronx pic.twitter.com/Uz3NTgXl35
— Rep Jose E. Serrano (@RepJoseSerrano) January 12, 2017
Rep. Terri A. Sewell (D-Ala.)
“Upon prayerful deliberation, I have decided not to attend the inauguration of the 45th President. While I have a profound respect for the office of the President, and I accept the results of the election, I simply cannot accept the blatant disrespect shown by President-elect Trump towards American civil rights icon, my colleague, friend and mentor, the Honorable John Lewis. The ongoing attacks against Congressman John Lewis are a direct assault on the sacrifices of those brave men and women in my Alabama district who fought, bled and died for the civil rights and voting rights of all Americans. As always, I stand with my constituents.
Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-N.H.):
Instead of going to the Inauguration, I'll go to religious services to pray for all of our leaders and people, then will serve my district.
— Carol Shea-Porter (@TeamSheaPorter) January 17, 2017
Rep. Louise M. Slaughter (D-N.Y.):
Will not attend, per the Democrat & Chronicle.
Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.):
“As the House of Representatives is not in session the week of Inauguration, Congressman Smith will spend the District Work Period at home in Washington state meeting with his constituents,” a representative for the congressman said in a statement to Seattle NBC affiliate KING 5 News.
Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.):
“I am deeply disappointed with Trump’s attacks against civil rights hero John Lewis and will not be attending the inauguration as a result,” Soto told Orlando ABC affiliate WFTV-Channel 9.
Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.):
"All talk, no action."
— Mark Takano (@RepMarkTakano) January 14, 2017
I stand with @repjohnlewis and I will not be attending the inauguration. pic.twitter.com/z8Q0wA9OPK
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.):
Will not attend, per the Clarion-Ledger.
Rep. Juan Vargas (D-Calif.):
I will not be attending the Inauguration. Instead, I will be praying for our country and for our community with the people of my district.
— Rep. Juan Vargas (@RepJuanVargas) January 17, 2017
Rep. Filemon Vela (D-Tex.):
The hope that his actions as President would not match his political rhetoric is becoming more and more of a distant dream.
— US Rep. Filemon Vela (@RepFilemonVela) January 19, 2017
Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.):
.@repjohnlewis is a national hero and I stand with him! I also am not attending inauguration given the tone of @realDonaldTrump's campaign
— Rep. Nydia Velazquez (@NydiaVelazquez) January 14, 2017
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.):
I never ever contemplated attending the inauguration or any activities associated w/ @realDonaldTrump. I wouldn't waste my time.
— Maxine Waters (@RepMaxineWaters) January 15, 2017
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.):
I do not intend to attend the inauguration of PE @realDonaldTrump. Instead, join me for an Interfaith Prayer Vigil. pic.twitter.com/c5aJYEQOUW
— Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (@RepBonnie) January 15, 2017
Rep. Frederica S. Wilson (D-Fla.):
Congresswoman @RepWilson tells me she will not attend @realDonaldTrump inauguration because of a wedding that day. @wsvn
— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) January 16, 2017
Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Ky.):
“For the last ten weeks, President-elect Trump has continually denigrated the office of the President by using his bully pulpit for insult and ridicule,” Yarmuth said in a statement. “This is not normal. It is an embarrassment to our country and to the office of the presidency, and we must send the message that this behavior is not acceptable from the leader of our nation. Not attending the Inauguration is one way for me to do that.”
Rep. Lois Frankel (D-Fla.) now plans to attend the inauguration. Earlier, she had said she would not attend.
A hallmark of our American democracy is the peaceful transition of power & I will attend inauguration in that spirit https://t.co/FUgYrfhvif pic.twitter.com/f5phmqpJ9e
— Rep. Lois Frankel (@RepLoisFrankel) January 19, 2017
Jenna Portnoy and Allison Michaels contributed to this report.