A growing number of House Democrats say they won't attend Donald Trump's inauguration after he criticized Georgia Rep. John Lewis as "all talk" and insulted his Atlanta-based district.
Trump called the district a "crime infested" area that is "falling apart," a day after the Democrat told NBC's "Meet the Press" that he will skip Trump's inauguration next week because he doesn't see him as a "legitimate president."
Other Democrats are citing that early-morning Twitter barrage for their decision to avoid this week's inauguration festivities. California Rep. Mark Takano,
and New York
all said on Twitter Saturday they will not attend the swearing-in ceremony to stand in solidarity with Lewis.
"For me, the personal decision not to attend Inauguration is quite simple: Do I stand with Donald Trump, or do I stand with John Lewis?" Lieu said in a statement. "I am standing with John Lewis."
Clarke tweeted: "When you insult @repjohnlewis, you insult America."
Several other Democrats, including Arizona Rep. Raul Grijalva and California Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, had previously announced plans to boycott the event.
Some Republicans are urging them to reconsider. Among them is Nebraska U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse, one of the most vocal Trump critics in the GOP, who wrote that the inauguration isn't about Trump but "a celebration of peaceful transfer of power."
Related: Which Georgia Democrats are boycotting Donald Trump’s inauguration?
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Related: Donald Trump condemned for attacks on John Lewis and his Atlanta district
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