Rep. Jan Schakowsky Refused To Attend Trump's SOTU

CHICAGO — Rep. Jan Schakowsky is one of three of Illinois' Democratic members of Congress who announced plans to boycott President Donald Trump's first State of the Union address on Tuesday.

The group was cited in a CBS News report along with members from across the U.S. who also vowed to stay away. Illinois' Rep. Danny Davis and Rep. Bobby Rush were also identified in the story. In their explanations to press, all referenced their disapproval of what they consider to be racist or hateful behavior by Trump.

“I refuse to normalize President Donald Trump and his loathsome language and actions," Schankowsky said, in the story. "The American people have been subjected to a year of racist, erratic, and divisive behavior from their Commander in Chief, and I refuse to accept that as the new normal.”

Schankowsky's 9th Congressional District includes much of the north and far northwest side of the Chicago; as well as portions of Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, Prospect Heights, Northbrook and a laundry list of other communities.

Rush and Davis echoed her sentiments, with Rush contending that citizens are, "Watching the presidency erode before our eyes."

"This is a presidency that has been built on racism, stupidity, and lies, which has already wasted enough of America’s time and I will not waste anymore of mine," he said.

Photo by Jim Lo Scalzo/Pool Image via Associated Press, File