Dozens of activists, actors, boldface names, former presidents and members of the family of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. are speaking at events to mark the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington.
But not one leader of the House or Senate is in attendance, on stage or speaking at the event.
Other lawmakers spoke at the official commemoration in Washington on Wednesday, including Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) — the only surviving speaker from the 1963 march — and Reps. Joaquin Castro (D-Tex.) and Donna Edwards (D-Md.). Sen. Angus I. King (I-Maine) also spoke, but no Republican lawmakers delivered remarks.
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), the only black Republican senator, was not invited to attend,according to the Wall Street Journal.
Top congressional aides confirmed that senior leaders were invited to attend and speak but said that events elsewhere kept them away from Washington. The aides also noted that each top House and Senate leader spoke at an event July 31 at the U.S. Capitol to mark the anniversary of King’s historic speech. Instead of being in Washington on Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) planned to participate in a commemoration event in Nevada and call into a black radio station in Las Vegas after a speech Wednesday afternoon by President Obama, aides said. In August 1963, Reid was a student at George Washington University and worked at night as a U.S. Capitol Police officer.
House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) had no public events scheduled Wednesday, aides said. Aides to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) did not immediately return requests for comment.
Though each of the top congressional leaders maintains a residence in Washington, D.C., the home district of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor is the closest to Washington, only about 90 minutes away. Read the Rest.
