Salon today has a fascinating story about Maryland's two African American members of Congress, Rep. Donna Edwards and Rep. Elijah Cummings. The story concerns their attendance at a big-ticket Democratic fundraiser last night. Occupy DC protestors were rallying outside of the event:
Tickets to the fundraisers, held blocks away from the White House, ran between $5,000 to $75,000 a piece. DC Police had formed a human chain across the front entrance of the W, opening up a makeshift hallway against the side of the building, so guests and stone-faced members of Congress, hoping to go unrecognized, could slip inside.The Washington Times had video footage of her speech to the #occupydc protestors, which we provide below:
Not Rep. Donna Edwards of Maryland. On her way out, Edwards tried to step through the line of police and put on a look of disappointment when she couldn’t. She walked around and moved front-and-center of the group, waited politely until the last speaker finished.
The surprise appearance was bold. Earlier that day, the occupiers had been stood up by Democratic Rep. Elijah Cummings, also of Maryland, who cancelled his plans to address the encampment at McPherson Part at 5 p.m. Some speculated Cummings got cold feet when he found out the group would be marching against Democrats. (A spokesman said his schedule was too full.)
Edwards introduced herself.
“I walked in, and didn’t acknowledge you,” she said. “I couldn’t walk out and not acknowledge you.”
“I stand with the 99 percent,” she announced.
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