By Tashi McQueen AFRO Employees Author tmcqueen@afro.com
A number of Democratic lawmakers, together with Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.-7), are selecting to take a seat out the forty seventh president’s first congressional handle of his second time period.
“Donald Trump and Elon Musk are destroying the state of the union,” mentioned Mfume in a press release on March 4. “I don’t have to be there to observe him declare in any other case.”
The president’s handle will air on March 4 at 9 p.m. ET.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) additionally shared that she wouldn’t be attending the president’s handle.
“I’m not going to the joint handle,” mentioned Ocasio-Cortez by way of the social media app, Bluesky, on March 4. “I will probably be reside posting and chatting with you all right here as an alternative. Then occurring IG Stay after.”
Whereas a number of different Democrats mentioned they too wouldn’t be attending the ceremony, Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries and Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) are among the many Democrats who shared that they might attend.
In a letter to Home Democrats on March 5, Jeffries inspired Democrats to end up to the handle however acknowledged that it might come right down to a private alternative for every legislator.
“Given my duties within the Home, I plan to attend the speech, together with different members of the Democratic management, to clarify to the nation that there’s a robust opposition get together prepared, keen and in a position to function a test and stability on the excesses of the administration,” mentioned Jeffries within the letter. “The choice to attend the joint session is a private one and we perceive that members will come to totally different conclusions. Nevertheless, it is very important have a powerful, decided and dignified Democratic presence within the chamber.”
Alsobrooks mentioned she is attending as a result of “Maryland deserves to have a presence in tonight’s speech.”
“I’m grateful that Ottis Johnson, Jr. (nationwide vice chairman of the 14th District of the American Federation of Authorities Workers) will probably be becoming a member of me tonight to listen to instantly from this President,” mentioned Alsobrooks in a press release on March 4. “Ottis Johnson, Jr. isn’t simply becoming a member of as my visitor, he’s been on this combat alongside me to avoid wasting our American jobs, to guard the thousands and thousands of devoted civil servants who work to enhance the lives of the American individuals.”
