Lawmakers condemn Trump for attack on John Lewis

Lawmakers took to social media on Saturday to defend Rep. John Lewis’s (D-Ga.) legacy after President-elect Donald Trump launched an early-morning Twitter attack on the civil rights leader.

 

Pushing back against Trump’s criticism that Lewis is “all talk” and “no action or results,” Democrats and one Republican recalled Lewis’s role in the civil rights movement and painted him as a tooth-and-nail defender of justice.

 

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) criticized Trump’s efforts “to silence” Lewis, while House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) defended Lewis and the House Democrats’ official Twitter account pledged to stand with Lewis.

Ahead of #MLKday2017, let us remember that many have tried to silence @repjohnlewis over the years. All have failed.

— Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) January 14, 2017

To my dear friend & Brother @repjohnlewis: thank you for taking action to make this country better. pic.twitter.com/oyYFZE02JR

— Elijah E. Cummings (@RepCummings) January 14, 2017

My brother @RepJohnLewis has dedicated his life to ensuring all Americans have a voice. I stand with him & we should all continue his work. pic.twitter.com/hZ14w1Rg9y

— Steny Hoyer (@WhipHoyer) January 14, 2017

We stand with @repjohnlewis. pic.twitter.com/M4MUQi7HtF

— House Democrats (@HouseDemocrats) January 14, 2017

 

 

Republican Sen. Ben Sasse (Neb.) joined a number of Democratic senators in lauding Lewis.

 

Sasse said Lewis’s “talk” changed the world, while other Democrats called him a hero” and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) said he “deserves better than this.” 

 

John Lewis is an icon of the Civil Rights Movement who is fearless in the pursuit of justice and equality. He deserves better than this. https://t.co/WX1QDCKfzP

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) January 14, 2017

.@realDonaldTrump: This is not talk. @repjohnlewis is an American hero. pic.twitter.com/UNQAWjVwhC

— Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) January 14, 2017

John Lewis and his “talk” have changed the world.https://t.co/qeUloAkeTx https://t.co/aH2vDLjKk9

— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) January 14, 2017

As we honor MLK, I'll always stand by my friend, American hero @repjohnlewis. We'll lock arms & resist any effort to roll back civil rights.

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) January 14, 2017

My friend @repjohnlewis is an American hero. A champion for justice and reconciliation. @realDonaldTrump could learn smth from his example

— Senator Mazie Hirono (@maziehirono) January 14, 2017

 

Trump’s attacks on Lewis came a day after Lewis said that Trump wasn’t a “legitimate president.”

 

{mosads}”I believe in forgiveness,” Lewis told NBC News. “I believe in trying to work with people. It will be hard. It’s going to be very difficult. I don’t see this president-elect as a legitimate president.”

 

Lewis is widely seen as an icon among Democrats, and some lawmakers saw Trump’s comments as a direct attack on his legacy as a civil rights activist and as a politician.

 

Lewis was a key civil rights leader in the 1960s as chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. He was frequently arrested and beaten by police officers at protests, including “Bloody Sunday” in Selma, Ala., in 1965.

 

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), a top contender to head the Democratic National Committee, blasted Trump, saying the real estate mogul “has no clue” about sacrifice.

 

Other House Democrats called Lewis a “hero” and “icon,” with one calling Trump’s reaction “repulsive” and another saying the president-elect isn’t fit to polish Lewis’s boots.

 

.@repjohnlewis knows true sacrifice. @realDonaldTrump has no clue. When cluelessness collides with power oppression results. Resistance! https://t.co/Eu1vWbetsl

— Rep. Keith Ellison (@keithellison) January 14, 2017   

.@repjohnlewis is a hero and I’m lucky to call him a colleague. You sir are not half the man he is. @realDonaldTrump https://t.co/f7VwPYQNiz

— Brendan Boyle (@RepBrendanBoyle) January 14, 2017

.@repjohnlewis is a hero who has given his life to equal rights. He’s been locked up, beaten up, spit on and still never lost his fight

— Gerry Connolly (@GerryConnolly) January 14, 2017

Trump’s tweets are repulsive

— Gerry Connolly (@GerryConnolly) January 14, 2017

.@repjohnlewis dedicated his life to fighting injustice & changing the course of our nation’s history. Truly an honor to serve with him. pic.twitter.com/uMkFfmX6sq

— Rep. Salud Carbajal (@RepCarbajal) January 14, 2017

Here’s a tip: Instead of attacking civil rights icons like John Lewis, reach out to all the Americans feeling threatened by your presidency. https://t.co/BjRfOAUIgX

— Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) January 14, 2017

John Lewis is an American hero. 

You’re a fake billionaire who won’t release his taxes. 

Put down Twitter and get serious about governing. https://t.co/LIvpXhX2wX

— David Cicilline (@davidcicilline) January 14, 2017

Is this really happening? The incoming President is attacking an American civil rights icon during Martin Luther King Jr. weekend?

— David Cicilline (@davidcicilline) January 14, 2017

.@realDonaldTrump stands with V. Putin. I stand with @repjohnlewis.

— (((Rep. Nadler))) (@RepJerryNadler) January 14, 2017

Cowardly @realDonaldTrump isn’t fit to polish hero @repjohnlewis‘s boots.

— Yvette D. Clarke (@RepYvetteClarke) January 14, 2017

My good friend @repjohnlewis has dedicated his life to fighting for freedom & equality in his district & across this nation. (1/3)

— John Conyers, Jr. (@RepJohnConyers) January 14, 2017

Very concerned that Trump would spend time attacking John Lewis instead of preparing to start his Presidency. (2/3)

— John Conyers, Jr. (@RepJohnConyers) January 14, 2017

Agree with VP Biden that it's time for Trump to grow up. Being POTUS is a serious matter – not child's play. I stand w/ @repjohnlewis (3/3)

— John Conyers, Jr. (@RepJohnConyers) January 14, 2017

.@RealDonaldTrump @repjohnlewis has spent his entire life fighting for others- you've never been interested in helping anyone but yourself!

— Rep. Ruben J. Kihuen (@RepKihuen) January 14, 2017

My friend @repjohnlewis has sacrificed more than @realdonaldtrump ever has or will. Here he is almost dying fighting for equal rights. pic.twitter.com/yL3uQCuH8F

— Rep. Dan Kildee (@RepDanKildee) January 14, 2017

.@repjohnlewis is a hero who risked his life fighting injustice. Attacks on a Civil Rights icon – during MLK weekend – are an embarrassment. https://t.co/9TGF0Zc3zc

— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) January 14, 2017

Stones and batons couldn't stop @RepJohnLewis's fight for justice. Petty tweets certainly won't.

— Rep. Joe Kennedy III (@RepJoeKennedy) January 14, 2017

– Updated at 12:45 p.m.