A Democratic congresswoman announced Thursday she plans on skipping Donald Trump’s inauguration next week as the 45th president of the United States, vowing instead to spend her time laying the groundwork for “resistance.”
Rep. Barbara Lee of California said she can’t stomach the idea of attending the Jan. 20 ceremony after Mr. Trump ran “one of the most divisive and prejudiced campaigns in modern history.”
“I will not be celebrating or honoring an incoming president who rode racism, sexism, xenophobia and bigotry to the White House,” said Ms. Lee, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Ms. Lee said Mr. Trump insulted Mexican immigrants, denigrated communities of color and normalized bigotry. She said the Republican has shown that he will govern in a similar manner by tapping Steve Bannon as senior adviser, nominating Sen. Jeff Sessions as attorney general, and downplaying Russian involvement in the election.
“Donald Trump has proven that his administration will normalize the most extreme fringes of the Republican Party,” she said. “On Inauguration Day, I will not be celebrating. I will be organizing and preparing for resistance.”
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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