Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) struggled at a town hall event Wednesday evening when two attendees confronted her for allegedly supporting nuclear war.
“My friend @Noggatone and I confronted Congresswoman [AOC] on her support for Nuclear War and Ukrainian Nazis,” Jose Vega captioned his interaction with the congresswoman.
“I call her out for being a coward in the face of the party that will push us all into Nuclear war right now,” he added. “Will she stand up like [Tulsi Gabbard] and fight for peace?”
AOC complained that the protesters jumped ahead in line to ask their question. The elected official also told the men she would address the issue “last” at the event, but video of the live-streamed town hall does not show the Democrat addressing the concerns at all.
My friend @Noggatone and I confronted Congresswoman @AOC on her support for Nuclear War and Ukrainian Nazis. I call her out for being a coward in the face of the party that will push us all into Nuclear war right now. Will she stand up like @TulsiGabbard and fight for peace? pic.twitter.com/aQiQvQSWIN
— Jose Vega (@JosBtrigga) October 13, 2022
“Tulsi Gabbard, she’s left the Democratic Party because they are war hawks,” one protester told AOC, Timcast first reported. “You ran as an outsider! Yet, you’ve been voting to start this war in Ukraine.”
“Why are you playing with the lives of American citizens?” he pressed. “You’re playing with our lives!”
“You voted to mobilize and send money to Ukrainian Nazis,” Vega yelled. “You’re a coward!”
In the streamed video of the event, AOC can be heard scolding the men for being “rude” and not respecting their neighbors.
“I’m not asking you to respect me,” she said, adding that she wanted the men to “respect” their neighbors.
“You are being rude!” AOC scolded at another point, adding, “of course I’m against it,” seemingly referring to nuclear war.
Town Hall: Legislative Victories & Opportunities for Constituents https://t.co/ObTDOKl1GA
— Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@RepAOC) October 12, 2022
The clip made the rounds online Wednesday evening. Journalist Michael Tracey, for example, commented, “First time I’ve seen any high profile ‘progressive’ figure challenged on the rabidly pro-war policies they’ve backed without reservation over the past eight months.”
First time I’ve seen any high profile “progressive” figure challenged on the rabidly pro-war policies they’ve backed without reservation over the past eight months https://t.co/5Vgo1khTSv
— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) October 13, 2022
Vega told Timcast he is neither Left nor Right-wing and the issue transcends political parties.
“Congress is in recess for the next month until after the elections,” he said. “Everyone should find their representative and tell them that there’s only one thing on the table — and it’s nuclear war. People need to stand up no matter what they believe and speak out against the war mobilization.”
During the same town hall, AOC was pressed on her immigration stance by a retired firefighter, and another constituent asked the Democrat about rising crime with seemingly no consequences.
WATCH (relevant comments begin at the 50-minute mark):
