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Reps. Evans, Boyle, Brady indicate they will boycott Trump's inauguration

Three Philadelphia Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives have said they will not attend President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration Friday.

Three Philadelphia Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives have said they will not attend President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration Friday.

U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans on Monday morning posted on Twitter that he would follow the lead of U.S. Rep. John Lewis, the civil rights leader and Democratic congressman from Georgia, and boycott the event.

"I #StandWithJohnLewis. I will not be attending the inauguration. Russian hacking must be investigated and I do not support the repeal of ACA," Evans wrote, referring to the Affordable Care Act.

Evans represents the Second Congressional District in Pennsylvania, which includes parts of West, North, and Northwest Philadelphia and Montgomery County.

More than 40 House Democrats have said they will not attend, the Washington Post reported.

On Monday night, U.S. Rep. Brendan F. Boyle, announced on his Facebook page that he would join the boycott.

"As I wrote last March, I believe Donald Trump is a unique threat to the Constitution and to our country. I have never before used such stark terms to describe an American political leader, Democrat or Republican. I do not use these words lightly. But Trump warrants such dramatic description," Boyle wrote.

The congressman, who represents parts of Northeast Philadelphia and eastern Montgomery County, said he attended the joint session of Congress earlier this month to certify the results of the Electoral College.

"As vehemently as I disagree with the election results, I fulfilled my constitutional obligation," he wrote. "Now the question turns to whether to attend the Inaugural celebration."

Boyle said he believed the inauguration should be a nonpolitical day, but he struggled with the idea of celebrating what he believed to be a grave mistake. He decided he could not.

"After wrestling with this question for the last two months, I have concluded I cannot participate in this Inaugural celebration," Boyle wrote. "I accept the decision of the people. I respect it. But I will not celebrate it."

Rep. Robert Brady, chairman of the city Democratic Party, told 6ABC and CBS3 that he also would not attend.

bmoran@phillynews.com

215-854-5983@RobertMoran215