New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has invited Ana Maria Archila, the co-executive director of the Center for Popular Democracy, to attend the State of the Union address with her this Tuesday. Archila lives in Queens and is one of Ocasio-Cortez’s constituents, but that isn’t the only reason she’s been invited by the congresswoman.
Need a refresher on who Archila is? She is none other than the brave and inspiring community activist who confronted then-Sen. Jeff Flake (a Republican representing Arizona) in an elevator during Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings for a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court. (Maria Gallagher, who told Flake about her sexual assault, was part of the incredible confrontation as well.) “What you are doing is allowing someone who actually violated a woman to sit on the Supreme Court. This is not tolerable. You have children in your family. Think about them,” Archila told Flake in the elevator, trying to convince him that Kavanaugh was unfit to be a justice.
Flake announced in October 2017 that he wouldn’t seek re-election, and he is no longer a senator. Most importantly, after the viral elevator confrontation, he requested a delay in the hearings so that the FBI could follow through on investigating the claims against Kavanaugh.
Speaking to the Intercept about Ocasio-Cortez’s invitation, Archila stated:
“I just feel particularly moved that in her first participation in the State of the Union she is inviting me to join and inviting that moment of the elevator, my confrontation with the men who do not understand the life of women and the lives of people who are not in power, that she’s inviting that into the imagination of people again.”
Who else are Democrats bringing to the SOTU? A lot of really, really inspiring figures, as it turns out.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York announced on Twitter that she’ ll be bringing Lieutenant Commander Blake Dremann, an openly transgender sailor, to the State of the Union. This news comes at the same time that Gillibrand has announced that she’ll introduce legislation against Trump’ s disturbing transgender military ban:
Three other senators are inviting openly transgender military members: Rep. Jackie Speier of California, who is bringing Air Force Staff Sgt. Logan Ireland; Rep. Donald McEachin of Virginia, who is bringing Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Megan Winters; and Rep. Chris Pappas of New Hampshire, whose guest will be Navy veteran Tavion Dignard.
Rep. Eric Swalwell, a Democratic congressman from California, is bringing Cameron Kasky, an 18-year-old activist who survived the Parkland high school shooting and has gone on to co-found Never Again MSD. The group, which advocates for stricter gun laws, helped organize March for Our Lives this past year.
Rep. Swalwell released a statement on his choice:
“In the face of unimaginable tragedy, Cameron Kasky has shown remarkable strength. He stands at the forefront of the fight for action to address gun violence ... I’m proud to have Cameron join me at the U.S. Capitol, nearly one year after he faced a horror no kid should endure at school, to continue this fight, because there is no right more important than the right to live.”
Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon is bringing a mother and daughter from Guatemala who spent almost two months separated in the United States after fleeing their home country. “This child separation policy came from a dark and evil place within the heart of this administration,” Merkley said in a statement.
Rep. Jimmy Gomez, a Democrat from California, and Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, a Democrat from New Jersey, will each bring one of the two women who worked at Trump’s New Jersey golf club while undocumented.
Bringing guests who align with, or speak to, major political issues is nothing new when it comes to the State of the Union. What do you think about the choices made this year?