Rep. John Lewis (D., Ga.) released a joint statement with Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D., Miss.) on Thursday stating they will not go to this weekend's opening of the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum due to President Donald Trump's planned attendance.
"After careful consideration and conversations with church leaders, elected officials, civil rights activists, and many citizens of our congressional districts," the statement read, "we have decided not to attend or participate in the opening of the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum."
The statement continued saying that Trump's attendance and "hurtful policies" are "an insult to the people portrayed in this civil rights museum."
"The struggles represented in this museum exemplify the truth of what really happened in Mississippi," the statement said before criticizing "President Trump's disparaging comments" about women, the disabled, immigrants, and NFL players.
These attacks, the statement claimed, disrespect the efforts of Fannie Lou Hamer, Aaron Henry, Medgar Evers, Robert Clark, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, Michael Schwerner, and "countless others who have given their all for Mississippi to be a better place."
The statement encouraged Mississippians and Americans to visit "this historic civil rights museum" after Trump departs.
Lewis also boycotted Trump's inauguration ceremony.
The NAACP has also called Trump's planned attendance an "insult."