Democrat Walz will attend Trump's inauguration ceremony
Congressman Tim Walz, a Democrat representing Minnesota's 1st District, will attend President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on Friday.
"The peaceful transfer of power is a critical hallmark of our democracy, as is the right of every American to exercise their First Amendment right," said a spokesperson for Walz's office. "That is why Rep. Walz's DC office will welcome both constituents attending the inauguration and constituents participating in Saturday's Women's' March."
Nearly 60 House Democrats are boycotting the ceremony, citing Trump's "alarming and divisive policies, foreign interference in his election and his criticism of civil rights icon John Lewis, a congressman from Georgia," says a report from the Washington Post.
Among the lawmakers skipping the inauguration is Rep. Keith Ellison, the Democrat representing Minnesota's 5th District. Ellison is considered a top candidate to chair the Democratic National Committee.
"No question I am standing with John Lewis and the millions of people around the country who have been targeted by @realDonaldTrump,” Ellison wrote on Twitter. “The time is always right to do what is right. And in the face of so much hate, the right thing to do is reject it.”
Ellison is the only member of Minnesota's congressional delegation planning to skip Trump's inauguration. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, both Democrats, have confirmed their plans to attend the ceremony.
“Was this the result I hoped for in the election? No," said Klobuhar, according to WCCO-TV. "But I think you will find a lot of the senators, regardless of party, to be there for the ceremony."
Trump will be sworn in as America's 45th president Friday at noon.
For those in southern Minnesota interesting in attending, there are tickets remaining. The Post-Bulletin reports the availability of tickets stands in stark contract to eight years ago when Walz's office was "overwhelmed" with ticket requests to President Barack Obama's inauguration.
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(Cover photo: Med City Beat)
