On an Instagram Live video Monday, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) gave her unabridged thoughts on the January 6 Capitol riots for over 90 minutes, denouncing the Republicans who have not apologized after inciting the rioters. At its peak, her livestream had more than 160,000 viewers.
Ocasio-Cortez specifically name checked Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) who she said further incited the rioters by objecting to the certification of the Electoral College on January 6. Neither senator has acknowledged a role in the riots.
“These folks that tell us to move on, that it’s not a big deal, that we should forget what’s happened or even telling us to apologize, these are the same tactics as abusers,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “This is not about a difference of political opinion. This is about basic humanity.”
Ocasio-Cortez further explained that Democrats in Congress feel unsafe around certain Republicans.
“We cannot move on without accountability. We cannot heal without accountability. And so all of these people who want to tell us to move on are doing so at their own convenience,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “I would do it again. I don’t regret it at all. If that’s their stance, they continue to be a danger for their colleagues.”
In D.C., days before the riots, Ocasio-Cortez noted that she had encounters with hostile crowds. Then, during the riots, a man in a black hat banged on the congresswoman’s door shouting “where is she,” while she hid in the office bathroom.
“I just thought to myself that they got inside. I really just felt like, if this is the plan for me, then people will be able to take it from here,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “I thought I was going to die.”
The person banging on her door was actually a Capitol Police officer, but Ocasio-Cortez was still very shaken by the incident. The officer then gave vague instructions to the congresswoman and her staff, leaving them unsure where they should seek shelter.
The Capitol Police have not yet responded to Ocasio-Cortez’s comments from her livestream.
Ocasio-Cortez later took to Twitter to further explain that her story from the Capitol riots is not unique saying, “It is just one story of many of those whose lives were endangered at the Capitol by the lies, threats, and violence fanned by the cowardice of people who chose personal gain above democracy.”
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