Columbus Democrat Beatty not skipping Trump inauguration

COLUMBUS (WSYX/WTTE) — The list of Congressional democrats boycotting President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration continues to grow.

Right now, at least 60 representatives are skipping Friday's swearing-in after Trump responded to Congressman John Lewis in a tweet, after he called Trump "Not A Legitimate President." Despite many of her colleagues boycotting, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty says she plans to attend.

"I think you need people on both sides," she says.

The Columbus Democrat says her decision to go wasn't an easy one. Her colleague, Cleveland Democrat Marcia Fudge, isn't going.

Beatty says she respects the decision to skip Washington on Friday and supports her counterparts, but she says it was one of her constituents who convinced her to go.

"I had an elderly constituent say to me, 'I fought too hard to see a black man get elected to office and now I'm concerned', we have a president she didn't believe is qualified, but she said 'You're my congresswoman and I think you have a duty to be there. And when you're there, hopefully you'll be able to look at him eye to eye, stand shoulder to shoulder, toe to toe and fight for women, fight for minorities, fight for all human kind.' So, I'm going in that spirit, " Beatty said.

Beatty leaves for Washington on Thursday.


This article first appeared on FOX28's website on January 18, 2017.