Most Illinois Democrats in Congress Will Skip Trump Inauguration While DC State Republicans Celebrate

WASHINGTON — Of the 16 Illinois Democrats in Congress, 10 are skipping Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday, according to a Chicago Sun-Times survey, as jubilant Illinois Republicans celebrated here all weekend.

Trump’s inauguration lands on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the national holiday celebrating the civil rights icon, always held on the third Monday in January. The confluence of events means Democrats can argue, if they want, that they’re not boycotting Trump so much as they have better places to spend their time.

One of the main King Day events in Chicago on Monday is the annual breakfast hosted by Rainbow PUSH, the civil rights organization founded by the Reverend Jesse Jackson. And as a who’s who of Chicago is expected, his son, Rep. Jonathan Jackson, D-Ill., instead be at Trump’s swearing-in.

“I see it as my responsibility to attend the inauguration,” Jackson told the Sun-Times.

Illinois sends 17 members to the House; 14 Democrats and three Republicans. The two senators are both Democrats.

Late. Dick Durbin, Democrat No. 2 in the Senate, will participate in the inauguration. Late. Tammy Duckworth won’t.

In addition to Jackson, reps. Brad Schneider, Bill Foster, Lauren Underwood and Nikki Budzinski.

Rep. Robin Kelly, Delia Ramirez, Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, Mike Quigley, Sean Casten, Danny Davis, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Jan Schakowsky and Eric Sorensen are not included. Most do MLK Day events.

Kelly will be attending the Rainbow PUSH breakfast and doing other MLK Day events in her district. “A presidential inauguration is a beautiful ceremony to start the new administration, and I have been privileged to attend many in the past, including President Trump’s first inauguration. However, this year’s inauguration, I feel obligated to participate in several events with my constituents in the Second District in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King’s Day to continue his work toward racial justice and civil rights.

“Each event directly serves the people of the Second District, including feeding the hungry and donating blood. As we enter the next Trump administration, I hope the president will also recognize the need to advance civil rights for all, not just the chosen few.”

Quigley will do a shift at Nourishing Hope, a food pantry, “speaking to the people most vulnerable to the incoming administration’s dangerous agenda, which includes proposals to make drastic cuts to food security programs,” his spokesman said.

Davis will be at the Rainbow PUSH event and then do a town hall at Family Altar Baptist Church, 5507 W. Chicago Ave., for a discussion about King’s mission.

“Instead of attending President Trump’s inauguration, Ramirez and other elected officials will spend the day strengthening defense lines and building (an) intergovernmental coalition ahead of threats of deportation strikes,” her spokesman said.

Schakowsky said that on MLK Day, “I will be participating in several service-based activities in and around the Chicago community. I know many of my constituents are concerned about the direction our country is headed, and I want to assure them that anyone going after the people of the 9th Congressional District will have to come through me.

Casten said Monday, “I could attend the inauguration and listen to the president-elect denigrate the office of the President of the United States. Or I could spend the day with family and honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., his patriotism and the dream he had for the U.S. I choose the latter.”

Illinois Republicans in DC cheering

Downtown DC was flooded with people here Sunday for Trump’s inauguration, with the inauguration and parade moved inside due to the cold weather forecast. The Illinois Republican Party, led by Kathy Salvi, hosted a reception Saturday at the University Club here, and everyone was euphoric about Trump’s return to the presidency, including two of the three Illinois Republicans in the House, Mike Bost and Mary Miller.