Indian American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) has announced that she would not attend the January 30 State of the Union address in protest of President Trump’s divisive policies and rhetoric, The Seattle Times reports.
“I think it is absolutely unacceptable to see the racism and the hatred coming out the White House,” Jayapal said in a video posted on her Twitter account. She condemned Trump’s “demeaning” use of vulgarity, citing his “sh*thole countries” comment from last week.
ANNOUNCEMENT: With all the racism coming from the White House, I will NOT be attending @realDonaldTrump‘s State of the Union.
Instead, we’ll focus on the State of OUR Union, our opposition to his agenda, and we will lift up a progressive and inclusive vision of our country. pic.twitter.com/dcAWMIkZZV
— Pramila Jayapal (@PramilaJayapal) January 15, 2018
“My constituents and people across the country are heartbroken, terrified and demoralized,” Jayapal later added in a press statement. “As a brown immigrant female member of Congress, I feel the impact of these words personally, as well as collectively.”
Jayapal went on to announce that she will instead attend a “State of Our Union” address, joining activists and other Democratic congressmen boycotting Trump’s address. There, they will “resist racism” and discuss a “progressive vision” for the country.
She is one of at least five congressional representatives who will be boycotting the State of the Union. According to The Seattle Times, Jayapal joined Rep. Adam Smith in also skipping Trump’s inauguration last January.
Jayapal, an immigrant from India, is the first Indian American woman elected to the House of Representatives. A longtime advocate for immigrant rights, she is the founder of nonprofit OneAmerica, the largest immigrant advocacy organization in Washington state.
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