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u.s. news Diasabra 27 Maart 2021

US jobless claims fall to 684,000, fewest since pandemic

(AP) — Outside of George to bolster accountability.
Floyd's public memorial
last summer in Texas, Re- Democrats now control both
publican Gov. Greg Ab- chambers of Congress, but it
bott floated the possibility seems unlikely the bill could
of a law named in honor pass the Senate without sub-
of the longtime Houston stantial changes to win GOP
resident that would take support. In Texas, Reynolds
aim at police brutality. acknowledged that changes
are likely coming to their
But nine months later, as a legislation in order to win bi-
former Minneapolis police partisan support in the GOP-
officer charged in Floyd's controlled statehouse.
death is set to stand trial next
week and a George Floyd Act Republican Rep. James
is heard in the Texas Capitol White, who chairs the House
for the first time Thursday, Committee on Homeland
there are scarce early signs of Security and Public Safety,
GOP support for the package would only say he supports
of sweeping police reforms “constitutional policing”
introduced by Democrats, when asked whether he backs
including from Abbott. any elements of the bill. He
quickly added that measures
It reflects the challenges iff's deputies near Austin. Abbott, who on Thursday is fund the police” to argue that need to support law enforce-
facing the efforts in Texas, scheduled to be at the Texas supporters were intent on ment.
where Floyd, who was Black, “I think the governor's read- border for an event about slashing police force budgets.
was laid to rest following ing the tea leaves to see where COVID-19 vaccines, private- Supporters of the movement “Without law enforcement,
his death in May after Der- the other members of the ly met with Floyd's family in to “defund the police” say our laws aren't worth the ink
ek Chauvin, who is white, Republican caucus are,” said Houston last summer. He they actually want the gov- or the paper that's being used
pressed his knee against his Democratic state Rep. Ron said at the time he was com- ernment to spend more on to convey them to the pub-
neck for about nine minutes Reynolds, the vice chairman mitted to working with them housing and education than lic," he said.
while he was handcuffed and of the Texas Legislative Black to “ensure we never have policing.
pleading that he couldn’t Caucus. anything like this ever occur Four years ago, Abbott signed
breathe. Chauvin is charged in the state of Texas.” Earlier this month in Con- the Sandra Bland Act named
with murder and manslaugh- Provisions of the bill include gress, House Democrats after a black woman found
ter in a trial that begins Mon- banning chokeholds and re- His office did not return re- passed the most ambitious dead in a Texas jail in 2015
day in Minneapolis. quiring officers to intervene quests for comment Wednes- effort in decades to overhaul following a confrontational
if another officer is using ex- day. policing nationwide under traffic stop with a white state
Members of Floyd's fam- cessive force. the George Floyd Justice in trooper. The compromise
ily are expected to testify in When it comes to law en- Policing Act. Like the legisla- that reached his desk added
Texas, as is the sister of a sec- Reynolds said their caucus forcement, Abbott has made tion in Texas, the bill would de-escalation training and in-
ond Black man, Javier Am- has had ongoing discussions clear his top priority this year ban chokeholds and address dependent investigations of
bler, who also died in police with Abbott's staff, who he is preserving funding levels so-called qualified immu- county jail deaths, but the end
custody and was heard saying described as not making any for police departments, echo- nity that shields law enforce- product disappointed Bland’s
on body camera video that he commitments but also not ing Republicans who have ment from certain lawsuits. family, who felt it didn’t ad-
was having trouble breathing closing the door. seized on calls by some activ- It would also create national dress the circumstances lead-
while being detained by sher- ists and progressives to “de- standards for policing in a bid ing up to her death.

Legislator being investigated for Weinstein backdrop on Zoom

(AP) — A Maine legislator who pated. The latest was during a taxa- ford's apology didn't demonstrate stein’s 80 victims, but he disrespected
appeared for Zoom meetings tion committee hearing on Wednes- an understanding of why his actions our entire legislative branch, the staff
twice with a background that day. Both times, Bickford quickly were wrong. who support our work and every
made a joking reference to con- changed the background to a lake, Mainer who has experienced sexual
victed rapist Harvey Weinstein is which is his typical background for “Rep. Bickford not only belittled the assault and harassment,” they said in
being investigated by the Legis- Zoom meetings. violence committed against Wein- a statement.
lature’s human resources depart-
ment. Weinstein is a former Hollywood pro-
ducer who faced accusations of sexu-
The investigation will focus on ally assaulting more than 80 women,
whether state Rep. Bruce Bickford, and anger over his actions fueled the
a Republican from Auburn, violated #MeToo movement against the sex-
the Legislature's harassment policy, ual abuse and harassment of women.
Jenna Howard, spokesperson for Weinstein is currently in prison for
Democratic House Speaker Ryan rape.
Fecteau, said Thursday.
Bickford said the sign was meant to
Bickford issued a written apology for be shown only in private settings.
the Zoom backdrop, calling it “inap-
propriate and in poor taste.” But he “It was inappropriate and in poor
also told a newspaper that the joke taste. I sincerely regret the event and
would have been funny “in the pri- will ensure that it does not happen
vate setting with the proper people.” again," he wrote. "Please accept my
apology.”
The image had the words “Harvey
Weinstein Charm School Rehab House Majority Leader Michelle
Center” and appeared twice in Zoom Dunphy and Assistant Majority
meetings in which Bickford partici- Leader Rachel Talbot Ross said Bick-