Thread by @MsFlowersTweets

I just went to my neighborhood liquor store and heard a tale of deep Coronavirus induced suffering. We have got to find a way to get accelerated relief. This level of suffering and loss is beyond beyond.

The clerk, an elderly white woman, obviously needed an ear. And while I do not linger anywhere besides my house, I felt the gravitational pull from her troubled answer to how you doing. She said "oh honey, my heart is just hurting."

She went on to tell me all the ways that she supports her family. Her eldest grandson just started a job the first week of March and was then laid off. He was able to get $170/wk of UI. In October he got a letter saying that he'd been overpaid by $32/wk and owes the state $$.

He was told that his payments will stop and he is not eligible to get more money until he pays his debt. He has a newborn and an eight year old. She said he was up all night crying because he's scared to get evicted and brokenhearted about not being able to care for his family.

He also has a felony and is not able to get hired anywhere. His charge is 11 years old, he was young, and has never been in trouble again.

And then there is his sister...
She's been a server for a long time and they just closed indoor dining again. She hasn't been getting much work since restaurants opened at limited capacity so grandma is paying her car insurance and helping with rent.

She broke down crying when she said that her brother offered to put a few Christmas items on his credit card for the eight year old great-grandson.
She said "honey, I'm so tired" and I felt it in my bones y'all.

She said tomorrow she's gonna call Mitch McConnell cause she thinks he's the one holding us up. She said Bernie's on our side and Nancy Pelosi only cares about Trump not getting credit, not starving families.

I am an organizer by trade. I have heard harrowing stories from workers all around the world. This woman shook me to my core. I couldn't offer anything.
I listened. Never interrupted. Shook my head in agreement. Offered to keep them lifted in prayer.
It feels so inadequate.

We really out here on our own in a fucking global pandemic.

Even if the new administration makes stimulus checks the first order of business, we're talking about people not seeing checks until mid-February which is *checks notes* 9-10 weeks from now.

If cruelty is the point of this current administration - points are being made.

Americans need #COVIDReliefNow but @senatemajldr won’t provide anything without protecting corporations. Meanwhile, COVID-19 cases are surging and the clock is ticking on extending unemployment aid. #NoCorporateImmunity

Frontline workers have put their lives on the line to keep the economy running. They need #COVIDReliefNow but @senatemajldr is more interested in a corporate giveaway that puts corporate donors ahead of workers. So gross.

The eviction moratorium and paid leave are expiring just in time for New Year’s. But @senatemajldr continues to be missing in action. His only priority is a liability shield for his corporate donors. We are so screwed.