Here are some of the guests who represent the themes of tonight's State of the Union

By NPR Staff

Published March 7, 2024 at 5:39 AM EST

President Joe Biden hugs Steven Hadfield, who introduced him, during an event on prescription drug costs, in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023, in Washington.

A gospel singer and civil rights activist known as "the Voice of Selma," the prime minister of Sweden, and a middle school teacher whose student loan debt was forgiven: these are some of the people who will be special guests at tonight's State of the Union address.

It's part of the annual tradition for the White House to invite guests who bring to life the themes of the presidential speech. Members of Congress have adopted the tradition, inviting their own guests to the gallery to highlight their legislative priorities.

Here are some of the people who will sit alongside first lady Jill Biden for the speech tonight.

Bettie Mae Fikes, a singer and civil rights leader who marched on Bloody Sunday.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson of Sweden, whose country officially joins NATO on Thursday.
Keenan Jones, a middle school teacher in Plymouth, Minn. whose student loan debt was forgiven.
Jazmin Cazares, who became an advocate for tougher gun laws after her sister Jackie was killed in the shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Tex.

Jazmin Cazares, whose sister was was one of 19 children killed at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, speaks at a hearing in Austin on June 23, 2022.

Latorya Beasley of Birmingham whose in vitro fertilization treatments were canceled because of a recent court decision in Alabama.
Kate Cox, who was denied an emergency abortionby the Texas Supreme Court.
Commander Shelby Nikitin, a naval officer awarded the Bronze Star for her work onboard the USS Thomas Hudner helping protect vessels from Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.

President Biden speaks to striking United Auto Workers members and their president, Shawn Fain, after walking the picket line on Sept. 26, 2023.

Shawn Fain, president of the United Auto Workers,with whom President Biden marched on the picket line earlier this year.
Steven Hadfield of Matthews, N.C., whose prescription costs for blood cancer and diabetes were dramatically lowered by the Inflation Reduction Act.

Kameryn Pupunu, a police officer from Lahaina, Hawaii who helped save people in the deadly wildfire in August, a tragedy that killed four of his immediate family members.
Rashawn Spivey of Milwaukee, who owns a plumbing business replacing lead pipes, projects funded by Biden's infrastructure law.

President Biden speaks with Rashawn Spivey, CEO of Hero Plumbing, LLC on Dec. 20, 2023 in Milwaukee.