John Lewis boycotts opening of Mississippi civil rights museum because of Trump

Deborah Barfield Berry | USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — Reps. John Lewis, a civil rights icon, and Bennie Thompson said Thursday they won’t attend the opening of the long-awaited civil rights museum in Mississippi.

Why? Because President Trump will be there, and they viewed his attendance as an "insult."

The Democratic lawmakers will join civil rights veterans, religious leaders and others in their boycott of Saturday's opening of the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum in Jackson.

“President Trump’s attendance and his hurtful policies are an insult to the people portrayed in this civil rights museum,’’ Lewis and Thompson said in a statement. “The struggles represented in this museum exemplify the truth of what really happened in Mississippi. President Trump’s disparaging comments about women, the disabled, immigrants and National Football League players disrespect the efforts of Fannie Lou Hamer, Aaron Henry, Medgar Evers, Robert Clark, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, Michael Schwerner and countless others who have given their all for Mississippi to be a better place.”

The White House called it "unfortunate'' the lawmakers won't attend the opening.

“We think it’s unfortunate that these members of Congress wouldn’t join the president in honoring the incredible sacrifice civil rights leaders made to right the injustices in our history,'' said Sarah Sanders, a White House spokeswoman. "The president hopes others will join him in recognizing that the movement was about removing barriers and unifying Americans of all backgrounds.”

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant, a Republican, invited Trump to attend the opening saying the state should be glad the president is coming.

Mississippi should be proud that @POTUS has agreed to speak at the opening of the Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum.

The world will be watching our Bicentennial celebration. Let us come together as one Mississippi. pic.twitter.com/QA8KKjP2yz — Phil Bryant (@PhilBryantMS) December 6, 2017

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Lewis, a Georgia Democrat is well-known for his work in the civil rights movement in the South, and Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat who helped register blacks to vote in his state, are both members of the Congressional Black Caucus.

The caucus has been at odds with Trump over a range of issues, including criminal justice, voting rights, immigration and health care.

Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-La., chairman of the caucus, called it "laughable'' that Trump would criticize the decision of Lewis and Thompson, both long-time civil rights activists.

“This White House is not serious about civil rights,'' Richmond said in a statement. "From dismantling the civil rights division in DOJ (Department of Justice) to equating peaceful people who protested racism to neo-Nazi’s and white supremacists - they just don’t get it.”

Lewis and Thompson were among dozens of Democrats, including other caucus member, to boycott Trump’s inauguration earlier this year.

The boycott rose after Trump and Lewis waged a battle on Twitter. Lewis had called Trump’s presidency illegitimate because of Russia's alleged role in trying to help him win. Trump attacked back saying Lewis should spend more time trying to fix his "horrible" and "crime-infested" district.

Thompson and Lewis plan to visit the museum later and urged others to do the same.

“After President Trump departs, we encourage all Mississippians and Americans to visit this historic civil rights museum,” they said.

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Contributing: David Jackson, USA TODAY