Press Releases

The event will coincide with President Buhari's July 21 visit to Capitol Hill

Who and What: Come look, see, hear as Rep. Frederica S. Wilson (D-Fla.), lawmakers, African advocacy groups and members of civil rights, religious freedom, labor and education movements welcome Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari to the U.S. Capitol, where he will meet with members of both the House and the Senate Tuesday evening.

"President Obama, after his Monday meeting with the West African leader, said that President Buhari is very concerned about the spread of Boko Haram and the violence it has reaped and also has ‘a very clear agenda' to combat the terrorist group and other extremists. Since taking office, President Buhari has received international praise for making this goal a top priority for his administration, which my colleagues and I wholeheartedly support. We hope to learn after his visit to Capitol Hill that he also has ‘a very clear agenda' to secure the return of the 219 Chibok girls who are still missing after their abduction by the terrorist group last April," said Rep. Wilson.

For the past several months, Rep. Wilson, joined by Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA-12), Republican Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-5), Reps. Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12), Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27), Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (CA-13), Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-22), Rep. Curt Clawson (FL-19), Rep. Debbie Dingell (MI-12), Rep. Stacey Plaskett (VI) and other Congressional lawmakers and leaders, have participated in Wear Something Red Wednesdays to #BringBackOurGirls, a weekly event to help ensure the missing girls and the growing threat of Boko Haram are not forgotten and to maintain pressure on the Nigerian government to honor its pledge to defeat the terrorist organization.

"We are hoping enough people to represent each one of the missing girls will join us Tuesday evening," Rep. Wilson added. "Imagine what a compelling image Mr. Buhari will take with him when he returns home – one that we hope he will not forget and that will help bolster his commitment to defeat Boko Haram and #BringBackOurGirls."

When: Tuesday, July 21, at 4:30 p.m.

Where: The House Triangle in front of the U.S. Capitol (Rain location: 210 Cannon House Office Building)

Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson is a third-term Congresswoman from Florida representing parts of Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward counties. A former state legislator and school principal, she is the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school. Congresswoman Wilson also founded the Florida Ports Caucus, a bipartisan taskforce that coordinates federal action in support of Florida's harbors and waterways.