Why This Senator Is Wearing a Pink Scarf to the Inauguration

Jennifer Gerson Uffalussy
·Contributing Writer
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee ranking member Patty Murray (D-WA) questions Betsy DeVos, President-elect Donald Trump's pick to be the next Secretary of Education, during her confirmation hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill January 17, 2017 in Washington, DC. DeVos is known for her advocacy of school choice and education voucher programs and is a long-time leader of the Republican Party in Michigan. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., is the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the assistant leader of the Senate Democrats. And while more than 60 Democrats in Congress are choosing to boycott Donald Trump’s inauguration, Murray will be attending — but in doing so, she wants to send a strong message to the soon-to-be 45th president of the United States.

In a Facebook post Friday morning, Murray wrote, “I am going to this Inauguration not to celebrate the start of this new Administration, but to stand with President Obama to represent the families of Washington state in witnessing the peaceful transfer of power in our great country. And to stand up tall in front of the Capitol building as Donald Trump becomes President to make sure he knows that we will not back down, we will not give up, and we will never stop fighting. Then I am going to the women’s march to join the millions of others across the country who are making their voices heard too.”

Murray continues, “In moments like these, small gestures matter. So here’s what I am doing: I am going to proudly and prominently wear my pink Planned Parenthood scarf to this Inauguration. I hope President-elect Trump sees it, and I hope he understands what it means and who I am there to represent: the millions of people in Washington state and across the country who reject hatred and division, and will fight back against any attempts to roll back the progress we’ve made.”

And Murray’s not the only senator who made a bold (fashion) statement at Trump’s inauguration this morning. Also wearing a pink Planned Parenthood scarf was Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.

photo courtesy of the office of Senator Patty Murray
photo courtesy of the office of Senator Patty Murray

On Wednesday, Murray accepted over half a million petitions by reproductive-rights advocates and progressive activists expressing their disagreement with the nomination of Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., as the next secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. And on Thursday, Murray hosted a forum alongside Warren and Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., to allow American women to share their personal health stories that speak to their opposition to Price’s nomination — often largely around Price’s repeated votes to defund Planned Parenthood and his vocal support for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including the ACA’s contraception mandate, which ensures that insurance plans cover all FDA-approved contraception methods without a copay.

So if you’re trying to spot who’s looking out for women’s health in Washington under the Trump administration, it’s safe to say to just look for the women in pink.

Related: Why Pink Yarn Is Going to Be Hard to Find Until Inauguration Day