3 Chicago Congressional Reps Boycott Trump's SOTU Address

CHICAGO — A trio of Democratic members of Congress representing Chicago and its surrounding areas are among those who boycotted President Donald Trump's first State of the Union address on Tuesday.

The group was cited in a recent CBS News report along with members from across the U.S. who also vowed to not attend. Illinois' Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Rep. Danny Davis and Rep. Bobby Rush were identified in the story. In their explanations to press, all referenced their refusal to support Trump's racist or hateful behavior.

“I cannot in good conscience stand silently by and watch generations of struggle for equal rights, for civil, human and voting rights, for the rights of women, for social and economic justice be undone from the highest office in the land," Davis said. "Therefore, during the President’s 2018 State of the Union Address, I will be in Chicago meeting with constituents from the 7th Congressional District to explore the Peoples’ State of the Union.”

Rush and Schakowsky provided similar responses, 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