Congresswoman Cori Bush feels like her life is in danger while she serves as a representative for the Democratic Party and decided to take things into her own hands and do something about it.
They would rather I die?” Bush asked. “You would rather me die? Is that what you want to see?”
– Cori Bush
Rep. Cori Bush has received much criticism for invested tens of thousands of dollars more into private security during the first quarter of 2022. This decision has grossed her security bills to more than $300,000 as she continues to push her position to defund the police.
During her interview with CBS News, Rep. Cori Bush explained her position on “defunding the police” while also explaining why she sought out private security.
You want to see me die? You know, because that could be the alternative. So either I spent $70,000 on private security over the last few months, and I’m here standing now and able to speak, able to help save 11 million people from being evicted. Or – I could possibly have a death attempt on my life. And we’re also talking about the same exact people who say horrible things about me, who lie to build up their base. And then because they lie about me, I receive death threats. Now they don’t address the fact that I receive death threats after they go on air and say horrible things about me. I have private security because my body is worth being on this planet right now. I have private security because they, the white supremacist racist narrative that they drive into this country. The fact that they don’t care that this Black woman that has put her life on the line, they can’t match my energy first of all.”
– Cori Bush
The Missouri Democrat’s campaign reported spending $70,489 on security services between Jan. 1 and March 31, Federal Election Commission filings show. The payments include $50,489 to Peace Security, $15,000 to Cortney Merrits and $5,000 to Nathaniel Davis, per Fox News.
Bush’s newest security checks follow the $233,663 her committee spent on the services in 2021, FEC records show. She has now paid out $304,152 for security this election cycle.
So if I end up spending $200,000, if I spend 10, 10, 10 more dollars on it, you know what, I get to be here to do the work. So suck it up and defunding the police has to happen. We need to defund the police and put that money into social safety nets because we’re trying to save lives. “
– Cori Bush
Rep. Cori Bush walks proudly in her stance on defunding the police and having security while doing so. She isn’t afraid to use her voice and experience to seek change. While she knows hard criticism from the opposing party and the Democratic Party is apart of the game she isn’t letting up anytime soon.
I always tell fellow Democrats, ‘If you all had fixed this before I got here, I wouldn’t have to say these things. Also, I didn’t see any of those people that have come against me with this negativity, with these lies, with these smears stand up when they saw the N-word. But you know what? I take that. And I walk with my head up and my shoulders back, because I know I’m doing the work for the people. I’m on the right side of history. And if they want, they can come and meet me to my face.”
– Cori Bush
Congresswoman Cori Bush went into detail with CBS News about her experience with police officers threatening her.
I have actual police officers who have threatened my life, tell me about that. Tell me, tell me that I don’t need security. I’m a Ferguson activist. That’s happened to us. That has happened to us. It’s not just me. Ferguson, frontline that has happened to us multiple times. I mean, it’s more times than we can count.”
– Cori Bush
Congresswoman Cori Bush has been in the streets fighting for justice since 2014 and doesn’t see the need to back down now. Did she imagine her position and stance would cause so much uproar and unfold the way it has? Of course not but she isn’t throwing in the towel anytime soon.
My dad, Earl Bush, has been in politics for most of my life. And I saw a good man do great things. And I saw so much like greed and corruption and just people trying to just hurt him, damage his name. I was like, Why would anybody want to do that? But the moment called, the people called and asked me to do it. I stepped up. But no, absolutely could not imagine this.”
– Cori Bush
Bush’s campaign has not made a statement on the continued payments.