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Sunday, Jan 16, 2011 5:23 PM UTC

Coburn, Schumer, to sit together

Per the Giffords shooting, Republican and Democrat senators agree on State of the Union unity display

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Topics: Gabrielle Giffords, Barack Obama, Democratic Party, Jared Loughner, Republican Party, Tea Parties, U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate,

Coburn, Schumer, to sit togetherSen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., arrives at a Democratic election night party in New York Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)(Credit: AP)

Two senators from different parties say they’ll skip tradition and sit together during President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address.

The decision by Republican Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and Democrat Chuck Schumer of New York comes amid calls for greater civility in political discourse following the fatal shootings last weekend at a political event in Tucson, Ariz.

Schumer says he and Coburn hope other lawmakers will follow their example and skip the partisan seating arrangements that usually come with joint sessions of Congress. Schumer says it’s a symbolic move but one he hopes will help set a more civil tone.

The State of the Union address is set for Jan. 25.

Coburn and Schumer spoke Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Associated Press

More Associated Press.

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  • The protests take on a festive element as police forces move out of the park and square. Wearing a gas mask, this young man dances to traditional Turkish music in front of Taksim Square’s Ataturk Monument.

  • In Gezi Park since March 31st, this protester, originally caught off-guard by the Government’s teargas and water cannons, went out and bought a Russian army mask from WWII, preparing for what was to come.

  • This rambunctious boy seems to be enjoying the chaos. After taking this picture he threw a stone at the already destroyed building in the background.

  • Forming a line, the police face off directly with protesters in Taksim Square. After a while, they retreated and there was a general cheer – a back-and-forth dance that has been common since the beginning of this protest.

  • An elderly woman in Gezi Park reads the news. The tent community occupying the park was violently destroyed on June 16th.

  • Many different groups had set up booths to promote their cause in Taksim Square and Gezi Park. Standing in front of one, this man waves his flag while posing with conviction.

  • Many home-remedies are used to minimize the effects of tear gas. This woman has put a milky solution on her face, removing her mask after the tear gas dissipated. Before sunrise, the police came again for another round of teargasing.

  • People capitalize on the uprising -- selling flags, beer, gas masks, sky lanterns and spray paint to name just a few of the popular items.

  • On Monday morning, June 11, the police execute a strong offensive. Many plain-clothed police officers, like the ones seen here, clash with protesters in the side streets away from the main stand-off in Taksim.

  • The authorities seem to be most aggressive in the night, pushing protesters away from the square and park. After being teargassed this young woman catches her breath with other protesters on Siraselviler Street.

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