John Lewis to speak at Atlanta march against Trump administration
Georgia U.S. Rep. John Lewis will headline a march in Atlanta on Saturday aimed at protesting against Donald Trump’s administration a day after he is sworn in as president.
The Atlanta March for Social Justice and Women said Thursday that Lewis will be among a range of high-profile speakers at the 1.7-mile march that will also include state House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams and state Sen. Vincent Fort, a mayoral candidate.
Lewis has been locked in a public feud with Trump after he questioned whether the Republican was a "legitimate" president. Trump responded by saying the civil rights icon was "all talk" and slammed his Atlanta-based district as a "crime infested" area that's in "horrible shape."
Lewis has kept a lower profile since the barrage, and his vow to boycott Friday’s inauguration means he’ll likely be out of view through the swearing-in ceremony. More than 60 other House Democrats are also skipping the inauguration, and many are citing Trump’s fight with Lewis as the reason.
The Atlanta march, which begins at 1 p.m. at the Center for Civil and Human Rights and ends at the Capitol, will mirror a larger demonstration to be held in Washington on Saturday. Thousands are expected to attend the Atlanta event, and organizers in Washington expect as many as 200,000 to rally.
About the Author
Greg Bluestein is the Atlanta Journal Constitution's chief political reporter. He is also an author, TV analyst and co-host of the Politically Georgia podcast.
