Following the example of the actresses who wore all black at the Golden Globes this weekend, woman Democrats say they will be doing the same at Trump’s State of the Union address on January 30. They will be wearing black in protest of sexual violence’s prevalence and in solidarity with the many victims who have suffered in silence. HuffPo reports:
NBC News first reported the lawmakers’ plan on Twitter, and Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) confirmed to HuffPost that she was planning to take part in the action.
“This is a culture change that is sweeping the country, and Congress is embracing it,” Speier, who launched #MeTooCongress in response to a social media movement against sexual harassment, told HuffPost on Tuesday.
The congresswoman said she and other members of the Democratic Women’s Working Group are inviting men and women across the political spectrum to join them in making a statement at the Jan. 30 State of the Union address.
Wearing black won’t be the only sign of protest from these lawmakers. NBC News reports that some will also bring survivors of sexual assault as their guests to the event.
Some Democratic House members are planning to invite victims of sexual assault to President Donald Trump's State of the Union address this month to highlight the issue, according to an aide to a lawmaker who has been a prominent voice on sexual misconduct.
"Some members will be bringing survivors of sexual assault and advocates as their guests," said an aide to Rep. Lois Frankel of Florida, who is a leader of the Democratic Women's Working Group in the House. The aide asked not to be identified.
Will only Democrats participate in these acts of awareness and solidarity? Time will tell, but unfortunately, it seems that sexual assault has increasingly become a partisan issue.