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U.S. NEWS Thursday 28 January 2021
U.S. terrorism alert warns of politically motivated violence

By BEN FOX and “I am glad to see that DHS
ERIC TUCKER fully recognizes the threat
Associated Press posed by violent, right-wing
WASHINGTON (AP) — The extremists and is taking ef-
Department of Homeland forts to communicate that
Security issued a national threat to the American
terrorism bulletin Wednes- people.” The alert was is-
day warning of the poten- sued by acting Homeland
tial for lingering violence Security Secretary David
from people motivated by Pekoske. Biden’s nominee
anti-government sentiment for the Cabinet post, Ale-
after President Joe Biden’s jandro Mayorkas, has not
election, suggesting the been confirmed by the
Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol Senate. Two former home-
may embolden extremists land security secretaries,
and set the stage for addi- Michael Chertoff and Ja-
tional attacks. net Napolitano, called on
The department did not the Senate to confirm May-
cite a specific threat, but orkas so he can start work-
pointed to “a heightened ing with the FBI and other
threat environment across agencies and deal with the
the United States” that it In this Jan. 6, 2021, file photo rioters try to break through a police barrier at the Capitol in Washington. threat posed by domestic
believes “will persist” for Associated Press extremists, among other is-
weeks after Biden’s Jan. 20 sues.Chertoff, who served
inauguration. overturning the election as “Information suggests that time after the riot at the under President George W.
It is not uncommon for the akin to terrorism. some ideologically-mo- Capitol by supporters of Bush, said in a conference
federal government to The wording of the docu- tivated violent extremists then-President Donald call with reporters that at-
warn local law enforce- ment suggests that national with objections to the ex- Trump who were seeking tacks by far-right, domestic
ment through bulletins security officials see a con- ercise of governmental au- to overturn the presidential extremists are not new but
about the prospect for vio- nective thread between thority and the presidential election. DHS also noted vi- that deaths attributed to
lence tied to a particular recent violence over the transition, as well as other olent riots in “recent days,” them in recent years in the
date or event, such as July last year motivated by anti- perceived grievances fu- an apparent reference to U.S. have exceeded those
4. But this particular bulletin, government grievances, eled by false narratives, events in Portland, Oregon, linked to jihadists such as
issued through the the de- whether over COVID-19 could continue to mobilize linked to anarchist groups. al-Qaida. “We have to be
partment’s National Terror- restrictions, the 2020 elec- to incite or commit vio- “The domestic terrorism at- candid and face what the
ism Advisory System, is no- tion results and police use lence,” the bulletin said. tack on our Capitol earlier real risk is,” he said.
table because it effectively of force. It also singles out It did not mention any this month shined a light Federal authorities have
places the Biden adminis- racially motivated acts of ideological or political af- on a threat that has been charged more than 150
tration into the politically violence such as the 2019 filiation. A DHS statement right in front of our faces people in the Capitol
charged debate over how rampage targeting Hispan- noted the potential for vio- for years,” said Rep. Ben- siege, including some with
to describe or characterize ics in Texas, as well as the lence from “a broad range nie Thompson, a Mississippi links to right-wing extremist
acts motivated by political threat posed by extremists of ideologically-motivated Democrat who is chair- groups such as the Three
ideology and suggests that motivated by foreign ter- actors.” man of the House Home- Percenters and the Oath
it sees violence aimed at rorist organizations. The alert comes at a tense land Security Committee. Keepers.q

Bernie Sanders’ mittens, memes help raise $1.8M for charity

By LISA RATHKE the so-called “Chairman I can in Washington to
Associated Press Sanders” merchandise, in- make sure working people
About those wooly mit- cluding T-shirts, sweatshirts in Vermont and across the
tens that U.S. Sen. Ber- and stickers, on his web- country get the relief they
nie Sanders wore to the site Thursday night and the need in the middle of the
presidential inauguration, first run sold out in less than worst crisis we’ve faced
sparking endless quirky 30 minutes, he said. More since the Great Depres-
memes across social me- merchandise was added sion.” Sanders’ mittens
dia? They’ve helped to over the weekend and were made by Jen Ellis,
raise $1.8 million in the last sold out by Monday morn- a Vermont elementary
five days for charitable ing, he said. school teacher who has a
organizations in Sanders’ “Jane and I were amazed side business making mit- Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders arrives for the 59th Presidential
home state of Vermont, by all the creativity shown tens out of recycled wool. Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol for President-elect Joe Biden
the independent senator by so many people over His inauguration look, also in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021.
announced Wednesday. the last week, and we’re featuring the winter jacket Associated Press
The sum comes from the glad we can use my inter- made by Burton Snow- the subway, the moon had raised an enormous
sale of merchandise with net fame to help Vermont- boards, sparked countless and the couch with the amount of money for Ver-
the Jan. 20 image of him ers in need,” Sanders said memes from the photo cast of “Friends,” among mont charities although
sitting with his arms and in a written statement. taken by Agence France- other creative locales. she was not authorized to
legs crossed, clad in his “But even this amount of Presse: The former presi- Ellis said on social media disclose the amount, yet.
brown parka and recy- money is no substitute for dential candidate could over the weekend that “But it’s BIG and it’s amaz-
cled wool mittens. action by Congress, and be found on social media Sanders called to tell her ing! Thank you!! Generosity
Sanders put the first of I will be doing everything timelines taking a seat on that “the mitten frenzy” brings joy,” she tweeted.q