A group of Democratic congresswomen plan to wear black to President Donald Trump’s first State of the Union address later this month – following the footsteps of Time’s Up supporters at the Golden Globes.
Much of the support comes from the Democratic Women’s Working Group, which includes all Democratic women in the House of Representatives, Rep Jackie Speier said.
Speier, of California, said the group was inviting all men and women from both parties to join the symbolic protest at the January 30 State of the Union.
Rep Jackie Speier said the Democratic Women’s Working Group was inviting all members of Congress to wear black to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on January 30
The decision comes after dozens of actresses and actors dressed in black at the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday to stand in solidarity with victims of sexual misconduct and the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements. Pictured above at a Globes after party, (Top L-R) Activist Rosa Clemente, actors Natalie Portman, Michelle Williams, America Ferrera, Jessica Chastain, Amy Poehler, Meryl Streep, (bottom L-R) activists Ai-jen Poo and Saru Jayaraman
The decision comes after dozens of actresses and actors dressed in black at the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday to stand in solidarity with victims of sexual misconduct and the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements.
The black-clad demonstration at the Golden Globe Awards was promoted by the recently formed Time’s Up.
It’s an initiative of hundreds of women in the entertainment industry – including Meryl Streep and Oprah Winfrey – who have banded together to advocate for gender parity in executive ranks.
Nancy Pelosi shared this photo back in February last year showing members of Congress wearing white to support women’s rights
The movement has already hit politicians in Rhode Island, where lawmakers wore black in solidarity with Time’s Up at the House speaker’s rostrum at the Statehouse in Providence on Tuesday.
‘This is a culture change that is sweeping the country, and Congress is embracing it,’ Speier said told NBC News.
Speier has long fought to make Congress safe for women.
She introduced a bill in 2014 requiring all House members and staffers to take anti-harassment training.
The bill did not pass at the time, but in the wake of recent harassment allegations against politicians, House Speaker Paul Ryan has said all staff will have to undergo training on sexual harassment.
Trump is scheduled to speak in front of conference for his first annual State of the Union address on January 30.
Several male Congressmen have resigned in recent months over sexual misconduct allegations, including Al Franken and John Conyers.
Trump himself has been accused of sexual misconduct by a number of women, but the president has denied all claims.
Meanwhile, Chief Justice John Roberts unveiled a plan last month to help shield US court employees from sexual harassment, acknowledging the judicial branch is ‘not immune’ after a powerful appellate judge retired over misconduct allegations.
The top US Supreme Court justice has already tasked Administrative Office of US Courts chief James Duff to review procedures to protect court employees from sexual misconduct, according to a memo released Wednesday that also spelled out existing recourse.
Duff said he was setting up a working group that would provide a report and recommendations by May 1.