To: Rep. Eliot Engel (NY-16)
Don't Shake Trump's Hand
On Tuesday, February 28, Congress will meet in joint session to hear an address from President Trump. Our Member of Congress, Eliot Engel, has a well-known tradition of getting to the floor early so he can sit in the aisle and shake the president's hand. This is not an ordinary president, with whom one might have policy differences but still respect the pleasantries of public interaction. When representatives of our group, NYCD16-Indivisible, met with Rep. Engel's staff on February 16, they were told that he had not yet made up his mind what he was going to do. So we have a simple message to our Member of Congress: Don't shake Trump's hand.
Why is this important?
Next Tuesday, when President Trump speaks before Congress, we want to make sure our Congressman, Eliot Engel, ends his tradition of shaking every president's hand at every State of the Union. With every day, this president tramples on the traditions that have served to protect our freedoms and rights. He spouts lies with geyser-like regularity. He demonizes people because of their race, their religion, or their place of national origin. He thinks the judiciary is not allowed to question his decisions. He claims that the free press is "an enemy of the people."
A handshake, especially one in such a public setting, is more than a mere formality. It is a gesture of respect. It's time for Rep. Engel to show some spine.
A handshake, especially one in such a public setting, is more than a mere formality. It is a gesture of respect. It's time for Rep. Engel to show some spine.