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| Rep. John Lewis' long history of civil rights activism was dismissed by President-elect Donald Trump. |
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| Congressmen Ted Lieu and Mark Takano will not attend the inauguration of the 45th President of the U.S. |
ON THE EVE of the Martin Luther King holiday, four Asian/American representatives are joining other members of Congress who will not be attending Donald Trump's inauguration ceremonies next week.
Trump's attack against civil rights hero Rep. John Lewis (D-Georgia) appears to have been the last straw for Rep. Judy Chu (D-Pasadena), Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Los Angeles), Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D- Seattle), Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.C.) and Rep. Mark Takano (D-Riverside). More lawmakers are likely to join the 19 who have already announced their intention to skip the ceremony on Jan. 20.
"That's not right. That's not fair. That's not the democratic process," Lewis said about the alleged Russian hacking, which U.S. intelligence officials believe was to help Trump get elected and to discredit Hillary Clinton.
Lewis said he could not attend the president-elect's inauguration in good conscience. "You cannot be at home with something that you feel that is wrong," Lewis said.
In a tweet, Trump dismissed Lewis, a Freedom Rider who was beaten during a 1965 march in Selma and was arrested and jailed repeatedly in opposition to segregation, as "all talk, talk, talk - no action or results."
This is the first time Lewis has not attended the inauguration since he entered Congress 30 years ago.
Lieu released a statement Saturday (Jan. 15) stating he will not attend the inaugurationecause of Trump's rebuke of civil rights activist John Lewis, Sen. John McCain, and Gold Star parents, mothers and fathers of American troops killed in military service.
“I can only hope that Trump will govern differently than he has campaigned. 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 also wrote in his statement that Trump will be in violation of the Constitution on the day he takes office because of his "massive conflicts of interests he has with his global business holdings."
Trump's attack against civil rights hero Rep. John Lewis (D-Georgia) appears to have been the last straw for Rep. Judy Chu (D-Pasadena), Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Los Angeles), Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D- Seattle), Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.C.) and Rep. Mark Takano (D-Riverside). More lawmakers are likely to join the 19 who have already announced their intention to skip the ceremony on Jan. 20.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Earlier versions of this post did not include Chu, Jayapal and Meng.In a television interview Friday (Jan. 14), Rep. Lewis said he doesn't see Trump as a "legitimate president" due to alleged Russian interference in the election.
"That's not right. That's not fair. That's not the democratic process," Lewis said about the alleged Russian hacking, which U.S. intelligence officials believe was to help Trump get elected and to discredit Hillary Clinton.
Lewis said he could not attend the president-elect's inauguration in good conscience. "You cannot be at home with something that you feel that is wrong," Lewis said.
In a tweet, Trump dismissed Lewis, a Freedom Rider who was beaten during a 1965 march in Selma and was arrested and jailed repeatedly in opposition to segregation, as "all talk, talk, talk - no action or results."
This is the first time Lewis has not attended the inauguration since he entered Congress 30 years ago.
Lieu released a statement Saturday (Jan. 15) stating he will not attend the inaugurationecause of Trump's rebuke of civil rights activist John Lewis, Sen. John McCain, and Gold Star parents, mothers and fathers of American troops killed in military service.
“I can only hope that Trump will govern differently than he has campaigned. 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 also wrote in his statement that Trump will be in violation of the Constitution on the day he takes office because of his "massive conflicts of interests he has with his global business holdings."
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