Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Calls for Northern Progressives to Engage with Southern States

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York, spoke at the "All Roads Lead to The South" rally in Montgomery, Alabama, on May 16. During her speech, she urged northern progressives to travel to southern states such as Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Mississippi to address what she described as political injustices. Ocasio-Cortez stated that the United States was not a true democracy until the Voting Rights Act was enacted in the 1960s and criticized the Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Roberts for its role in what she termed regression and repression in America. Following her speech, she reiterated her message on social media, encouraging individuals from outside these states to "pull up." Her comments received backlash from some conservatives, who noted the irony of her speaking behind bulletproof glass for security. Conservative podcaster Todd Spears and other social media users reacted critically to her remarks, suggesting that her call to action was divisive and questioning the safety of such engagement in the South. Ocasio-Cortez's office did not respond to requests for comment regarding the reactions to her speech.