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By Jasmine Laws
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A group of Democratic lawmakers plans to boycott President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address next week and attend a coordinated outdoor rally on the National Mall near the U.S. Capitol, organizers and members said Wednesday.
The State of the Union, which this year is being held on February 24, is the annual address given by the president to Congress, covering issues facing the nation and its condition, as well as future legislative priorities.
At least a dozen Democrats in Congress are skipping the address to instead attend the “People’s State of the Union” rally at 8:30 p.m. ET. Trump’s speech is scheduled for 9 p.m.
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Why It Matters
The planned demonstration reflects widening partisan tensions as the high-profile event comes amid a shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and a standoff over immigration policy, after immigration agents fatally shot two U.S. citizens in Minnesota last month.
Democrats have boycotted Trump's major moments in the past in both terms. Dozens of House Democrats skipped Trump’s first inauguration, and out of the 31 that were still in Congress for his second, only seven chose to attend, according to Politico.
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What To Know
Democratic Senators Ed Markey (Massachusetts), Jeff Merkley (Oregon), Chris Murphy (Connecticut), Tina Smith (Minnesota) and Chris Van Hollen (Maryland) and Representatives Yassamin Ansari (Arizona), Becca Balint (Vermont), Greg Casar (Texas), Veronica Escobar (Texas), Pramila Jayapal (Washington), Delia Ramirez (Illinois) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (New Jersey) are set to join those in attendance, one of the coalition members organizing the rally, MoveOn Civic Action, said in a news release.
MoveOn Civic Action said the rally would be "counterprogramming President Trump’s night full of lies and misplaced priorities for the American people."
During the rally, "we will hear directly from the people facing the consequences of Trump’s disastrous administration,” MoveOn Chief of Program Sara Haghdoosti said. Some are bringing guests to the rally to underscore their arguments about the real-world impact of Trump’s immigration policies.
Ansari, who walked out during Trump’s State of the Union address last year, said she would be bringing a guest to the rally, one who will "speak to the horrifying human consequences of ICE’s actions, stories this administration has tried to suppress."
A spokesperson for Democratic Representative Jennifer McClellan of Virginia said she views the State of the Union as "an opportunity to share the stories of those impacted by the Trump administration and congressional Republicans’ actions over the past year," according to The Hill.
“She will be bringing a guest who can speak to how their disastrous policies have made it harder for him and his family to make ends meet as they face an active health care crisis,” the spokesperson added.
Other Democrats are planning to make a quieter stand, simply skipping Trump's speech, while some have said they are prepared to walk out mid-speech, according to The Hill.
Democratic Representative Jared Huffman of California told Axios that he intended to leave the chamber mid‑speech, depending on Trump’s remarks, Politico reported.
"The only question for me is which of his disgusting lines prompts me to get up and leave, because at some point I will,” he said.
The White House has dismissed the boycott, and spokesperson Abigail Jackson said: "It’s not a surprise that they refuse to celebrate and honor the Americans who have benefited from the commonsense policies Republicans have governed with,” according to Politico.
What People Are Saying
Senator Ed Markey: "The State of the Union should be a reckoning with reality, but Donald Trump will use it to spin fiction and normalize the gross abuse of power,” said “He will claim everything is fine while families struggle to afford health care and housing, immigrant communities live in fear, and his billionaire allies loot the country under the cover of chaos – I will not legitimize those lies. Two hundred and fifty years ago, the American Revolution began in Massachusetts because we refused to bow to a king, and Donald Trump does not believe in ‘We the People’ or the democratic Union forged here in 1776 – he believes in power for himself. If Trump will not honor the American people, then the people should turn off his remarks and turn toward each other – toward their neighbors, their communities, and the real power of this country. I’m proud to join the People’s State of the Union to make clear that in America, power belongs to the people, not to a corrupt and immoral president who thinks he is above the law."
Senator Chris Murphy: "Donald Trump has made a mockery of the State of the Union speech – taking a moment that is meant to bring the country together and turning it into a campaign rally to spew hatred and division. Democrats have no obligation to reward him with an audience as he lies and attacks people who disagree with him. These aren’t normal times and showing up for this speech puts a veneer of legitimacy on the corruption and lawlessness that has defined his second term."
Senator Van Hollen: I will not normalize Donald Trump’s march toward fascism by attending his state of the union address. We cannot pretend this is business as usual. Trump’s second term has been defined by utter lawlessness and contempt for our Constitution – from his out-of-control ICE operation terrorizing our communities, to relentless attacks on our federal workforce and the essential services they provide, to a full-out assault on the individual constitutional rights we hold dear. And all the while he has leveraged the power of the presidency to enrich himself and his billionaire buddies at the expense of every day Americans. He is presiding over the most corrupt White House in American history, selling out our national interests to the highest bidder. I look forward to joining real patriots who are standing up and speaking out against Trump’s lawless agenda – as we fight to protect our democracy and the country we love."
What Happens Next
More guests joining the rally are set to be announced, MoveOn Civic Action said, and it will be streamed on MeidasTouch's YouTube page and MoveOn.org/Live.
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