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    'Accountability, not yet justice': how the US reacted to the Chauvin verdict – video

    Across many US cities, there were scenes of jubilation after Derek Chauvin was found guilty for the murder of George Floyd. Crowds gathered outside the court room in Minneapolis as well as at the scene of George Floyd’s death. Loud cheering erupted from Floyd’s family members watching in an adjacent courthouse room. But the elation was tinged with wariness and concern that while justice was done for one Black person, it would not be enough by itself

    ‘Just the beginning’: joy and wariness as crowds celebrate Chauvin verdict
    ‘My brother got justice’: George Floyd’s family praises guilty verdict
    ‘The work continues’: Black Americans stress that police reform is still needed More

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    Cori Bush says she's moving office away from GOP extremist over safety concerns

    Sign up for the Guardian’s First Thing newsletterThe Democratic representative Cori Bush said she is moving her office away from that of Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene due to safety concerns after Greene and her staff berated her and refused to wear masks.“I’ve worked fast food. I’ve worked in childcare. I’ve worked in healthcare. I’ve never been in a work environment like this before,” Bush said in an interview with MSNBC’s Joy Reid on Friday evening.Earlier in the day, Bush, a freshman representative from Missouri, had said in a statement that staff working for Greene, the newly elected Georgia congresswoman who supports the pro-Trump, antisemitic and racist QAnon conspiracy theory, had yelled after her in the underground tunnel connected to congressional office buildings: “Stop inciting violence with Black Lives Matter”.Bush told MSNBC she is moving her office, “not because I’m scared” of Greene, “because I am here to do a job for the people of St​ Louis”.“What I cannot do is continue to look over my shoulder wondering if a white supremacist in Congress, by the name of Marjorie Taylor Greene … is conspiring against us,” she said.Calls for Greene to be expelled from Congress or be censured have grown in recent days, amid reports that she has endorsed calls for violence against political opponents. In past social media posts uncovered by CNN, Greene indicated support for executing Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. In a 2018 Facebook post reported by MediaMatters, she echoed conspiracy theories that the wildfires that ravaged California that year were caused by a laser from space triggered by a group of Democratic politicians and companies for financial gain. And in a 2019 confrontation with survivors of the Parkland mass shooting documented on tape, she appeared to accost the students and later echoed conspiracy claims that mass shooting survivors and family members of victims are “crisis actors” and the attacks that killed their loved ones were staged as a plot to pass gun control laws.Greene has accused Bush of leading a “terrorist mob” because she was a prominent Black Lives Matter activist.The incident between Bush and Greene occurred on 13 January, and is a sign of growing strife in Congress following the pro-Trump riot that left at least five people dead. With Donald Trump facing an impeachment trial in the Senate for inciting the violence, many Republican leaders have avoided taking a clear stance against colleagues who egged on or encouraged the riot.[embedded content]The House Republican leader, Kevin McCarthy, is reportedly planning to meet with Greene on Monday to discuss her altercation with Bush. Still, the California Democrat Jimmy Gomez earlier this week announced plans to introduce a resolution to oust Greene as a rebuke of her calls for violence against lawmakers. Survivors of the Parkland shooting have also called on representatives to censure Greene, and March for Our Lives – the student-led gun violence prevention advocacy group that formed in the aftermath of Parkland, issued a one-word statement directed at Greene: “Resign”.The non-governmental Republican Jewish Coalition said on Friday it is working with lawmakers “regarding next steps in this matter” and noted that it opposed Greene’s 2020 election because “she repeatedly used offensive language in long online video diatribes” and “promoted bizarre political conspiracy theories”.Two-thirds of Congress would have to vote to expel Greene, which is unlikely to happen given that Republicans control slightly under half the seats.Greene is not the only first-term Republican member-facing scrutiny: Lauren Boebert of Colorado was warned that she could face criminal penalties if she carries out her publicly stated desire to bring her Glock into Congress.Several Republicans have complained about the metal detectors installed at the Capitol following the deadly attack earlier this month. The House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, announced fines for members ignoring metal detectors or refusing to wear face masks amid the pandemic.Reacting to video that Greene released following Bush’s allegations, Bush said: “She had the audacity to be walking through this space on her phone showing people that she was not going to adhere to the rules of the House,” Bush said. “Put your mask on.” More

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    'We weren't intimidated': A diary of Cori Bush's first two weeks in the House

    The first two weeks of Cori Bush’s freshman week in Congress couldn’t have been more turbulent. Three days after the Missouri representative was sworn in, the Capitol was stormed by white supremacists looking to overturn the election. She gave her first criticisms of the Biden administration, saw her Twitter following grow by 185,000 and, last but not least, voted to impeach the president. And she did all of it without a paycheck, as one of the very few representatives that was neither a millionaire nor a career politician before joining the House of Representatives. The Guardian caught up with her to discuss her first fortnight in the House.Week oneDay oneBeing sworn in was … Surreal. Seeing my name on the nameplate outside the door, getting my voting card and member pin, and having much of my family by my side meant so much to me. We took our seat; we opened our office, we cast our votes on the House floor. I wish all of St Louis could have been with me; it’s such an incredible honor to serve the community I’ve always loved. Being mistaken for Breonna Taylor was … Disappointing. We had just arrived to the auditorium, people were getting settled, walking around and introducing themselves. I was wearing a Breonna Taylor mask. Someone walked up to me and said “Hello Breonna,” and it stunned me. I paused, thinking, did I hear them correctly? I turned my head to make sure no one else was standing there. And then it happened again, and again, and again.That told me a lot. [The Republican party] dismissed the Black Lives Matter protests publicly, and yet [these representatives] didn’t even understand why we were protesting. Shouldn’t they be paying attention to what’s happening around the country?Day threeBeing in the Capitol when white supremacists stormed it was … What I was trained for. I come from the movement – we’ve faced tanks, police dogs, teargas, rubber bullets, you name it. We came here to fight for the people of St Louis, and we were not going to be intimidated by these insurrectionists. We locked ourselves in the office and got to work.Calling to expel the Republicans who tried to overturn the election was … something I never thought would be my first piece of legislation. This is a sad moment in our nation’s history, but it calls for us to act urgently in defense of democracy. Section 3 of the 14th amendment is clear: no person who works in rebellion against the United States government can hold the office of representative, senator or president. I’m proud to lead my colleagues in holding them accountable.Having the moment for celebration after the historic Democratic win in Georgia snatched away was … Unsurprising. Black joy, Black excellence, Black success – it is so often met with white violence. It’s a tradition that goes back to the foundation of our country. This is part of why we say we must legislate in defense of Black lives. It’s why I stood on the House floor, before voting to impeach this president, and called him out for what he is: the white supremacist-in-chief.Being part of “the Squad” is … Helpful. They offer advice, I ask them what some might call stupid questions, but I am able to talk to them as my sisters. They have really helped my transition.My policy will be shaped by … Those who have to choose between life-saving prescriptions and groceries; the people who are working three jobs and still can’t make ends meet; the sex workers, and those who have never been given the opportunity or resources to thrive. For decades, legislators have focused on helping the wealthy and well-connected. I’m focused on serving those who have been given the least because that is what the government is supposed to do.A summary of week one:Outfits thrifted: Many, but can you tell?
    High point: the thousands of small interactions I’ve had with people in my district. To make their lives better is my greatest privilege and honor.
    Low point: To be locked in my office with my team and not know what was happening and whether we all would be safe. We all deserve to be able to feel safe in our homes, in our communities and in our places of work.
    Week twoDay eightGetting my first paycheck has … Still not happened. There’s a reason why most people who run for Congress are wealthy – it’s expensive. It means working all day, every day without a paycheck, without health insurance. Or running a campaign and having a second full-time job. How are working people supposed to do that? I’m a single mom and I’ve been unhoused. I know what it’s like to struggle, but most people in Congress don’t. We have to make it easier for regular, working people to run and to serve.Moving to DC was … Hard, during the pandemic, without any money. But I have some furniture now. I have finally moved off the air mattress!Day 10Getting booed during a speech about white supremacy was … Proof they heard me. They showed their true colors. They booed a Black woman talking about ending, dismantling, rooting out white supremacy. And they said no! They said no on live TV. That’s exactly what America needed to see: even after an insurrection that could have killed lawmakers, that killed innocent people, they still were like “we want to hold on to white supremacy”.What does it mean when they boo the Black congresswoman denouncing white supremacy?— Cori Bush (@CoriBush) January 13, 2021
    Day 11The policy I will keep being vocal about is … A universal basic income. I’ve called for $2,000 monthly survival checks and last month the House voted to send a one-time payment of $2,000 for families. I think we need to recognize that poverty is a policy choice and it is my intention to keep fighting until economic prosperity can be shared by everyone.The US can only heal through … Accountability. After four years of the Trump administration, where we’ve seen communities devastated and the moral fabric of our country torn to shreds – we need justice for all we have been forced to endure. I’m going to fight to make sure every person has access to healthcare, housing and education – we can’t compromise on those things because we’re talking about whether or not someone can live.A summary of week two:High point: Leslie Jones giving commentary about a TV interview I did. She was so passionate, saying go ahead sister! I carry that with me, that people are right here and not even affiliated with politics, saying, “We got you.”
    Presidents impeached: 1 (but for the second time).
    Days off: You’re kidding, right? More

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    'Dollars don't vote': Ocasio-Cortez and the 'Squad' rally for action on climate crisis – video

    The New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was among members of the ‘Squad’, a group of progressive Democrats, who spoke at a Sunrise Movement rally in Washington to push Joe Biden on tackling the climate emergency.
    AOC said they would urge Biden to ‘keep his promises’ to working families, women, minorities and climate activists as he fills his cabinet.
    In July, Biden outlined an ambitious climate plan that would spend $2tn over four years investing in clean-energy infrastructure while vowing to cut carbon emissions from electrical power to zero in 15 years
    Climate activists ramp up pressure on Biden with protest outside Democratic headquarters
    Why Biden calls Trump a ‘climate arsonist’ – video explainer More

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    A congresswoman's predicament: what to wear? Cori Bush and AOC talk it out

    Last night newly elected Democratic congresswoman Cori Bush, who made history this year when she defeated a 10-term incumbent and became the first Black woman elected to Congress in Missouri, tweeted a practical concern about entering the House of Congress. “The reality of being a regular person going to Congress is it’s really expensive to get the business clothes I need,” she said.

    Cori Bush
    (@CoriBush)
    The reality of being a regular person going to Congress is that it’s really expensive to get the business clothes I need for the Hill. So I’m going thrift shopping tomorrow.Should I do a fashion show? ⬇️

    November 11, 2020

    Bush, the single mother of two children, gave up her health insurance to run for office, leaving full time work as an ordained pastor and nurse. She now finds herself having to dress for a place where people are used to inordinate means: in 2018, the median net-worth of a congressperson was $511,000, eight times that of the average US household. The majority of her colleagues at Congress are also millionaires – meanwhile, Bush will not receive her first paycheck until after inauguration on 20 January , potentially later depending on how long it takes Trump to acknowledge defeat.
    Bush is not the first to have these practical concerns. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib responded to Bush, saying she shops in thrift stores. Ayanna Pressley responded with make up tips.
    Alexandria Ocasio Cortez offered to go shopping with Bush. Ocasio Cortez, who was a waitress before being elected to Congress, has always spoken openly about how borrowing from friends, thrift shopping and a clothing rental subscription her friend bought her got her through her first term in the house. More