Refugee, Paris Train Hero, San Bernardino Victim’s Partner Among Obamas’ SOTU Guests
The White House today announced the full list of guests sitting with First Lady Michelle Obama during the State of the Union on Tuesday, with one very particular symbol for the victims of gun violence also included.
A lot of the guests reflect many of the policies the president plans to tout on Tuesday as big successes of his administration (i.e. climate change, gay marriage, police reform).
There are some individual guests of note, including Ryan Reyes, whose partner Larry Kaufman was one of the 14 San Bernardino victims. There are a number of veterans sitting with the First Lady, as well as the third woman to ever graduate from the Army’s Ranger School.
And Staff Sergeant Spencer Stone, one of the Paris train attack heroes, will also be there.
One of the guests, Refaai Hamo, is a Syrian refugee who, according to the White House, had his story featured by Humans of New York. A government missile ended up killing seven of his family members, and years later he moved to Michigan.
And lastly, right at the top of the White House’s announcement, there’s this note:
A Vacant Seat for the Victims of Gun Violence
Last week, the President took a series of commonsense steps to help reduce gun violence in America and make our communities safer.
We leave one seat empty in the First Lady’s State of the Union Guest Box for the victims of gun violence who no longer have a voice – because they need the rest of us to speak for them. To tell their stories. To honor their memory. To support the Americans whose lives have been forever changed by the terrible ripple effect of gun violence – survivors who’ve had to learn to live with a disability, or without the love of their life. To remind every single one of our representatives that it’s their responsibility to do something about this.
[h/t Politico]
[image via screengrab]
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