US Congresswoman equates Republican calls to maneuver on from the January 6 incident to different types of abuse, together with dismissing sexual assault.
US Democratic Consultant Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has described being terrified for her life through the storming of the US Capitol, doubling down on requires Republican politicians to be held accountable.
In an emotional broadcast on Monday evening, New York Home member Ocasio-Cortez mentioned she was harassed by these she recognized as followers of former President Donald Trump for days earlier than the January 6 incident and was warned by different members of Congress to be “cautious” on the day of the rally.
That day, Ocasio-Cortez mentioned on an Instagram Dwell broadcast, she hid behind a toilet door in her workplace, fearing for her life as Trump supporters sought to cease the certification of President Joe Biden’s election win.
“I assumed I used to be going to die,” she mentioned, describing how she and a staffer have been pressured to take shelter.
She evacuated with a staffer to a different constructing, she added, and scrambled to get right into a colleague’s workplace the place she hid for hours.
The Congresswoman equated Republican calls to maneuver on from the incident, through which 5 died and dozens of police have been injured, to different types of abuse.
“The explanation I’m getting emotional on this second is as a result of these people who inform us to maneuver on, that it’s not a giant deal, that we should always neglect what’s occurred, and even telling us to apologise, these are the identical techniques of abusers,” she mentioned.
“And I’m a survivor of sexual assault and I haven’t instructed many individuals that in my life. As a survivor, I battle with the concept of being believed.”
She gave no additional particulars concerning the assault, or when it came about.
AOC recounting her horrifying expertise hiding in her workplace through the riot.
“I assumed I used to be going to die…I’ve by no means been quieter in my total life.” pic.twitter.com/t2P6FU3mFU
— Justice Democrats (@justicedems) February 2, 2021
Ocasio-Cortez’s on-line remarks – seen greater than 650,000 occasions by Tuesday – drew widespread reward for bravery and honesty.
A number of congressional committees are investigating the safety failures behind the assault on Capitol constructing.
Ocasio-Cortez, extensively often known as AOC, is among the many most distinguished Democrats calling for Republicans who inspired and repeated Trump’s declare that he had gained the November 3 presidential election to resign after the incident.
“These are the techniques of abusers, this isn’t a few distinction of political opinion, that is about primary humanity,” she mentioned.
“We aren’t secure with individuals who maintain positions of energy who’re prepared to hazard the lives of others in the event that they assume it is going to rating them a political level.”
Fellow lawmaker Katie Porter took to MSNBC to say that she had supplied Ocasio-Cortez with a pair of sneakers through the riot, in case she wanted to “run for her life”.
“I simply hope I get to be a mother. I hope I don’t die at the moment,” Porter recounted Ocasio-Cortez as having instructed her.
Ocasio-Cortez responded curtly on Twitter to Republican Senator Ted Cruz after he publicly sided together with her criticism of inventory market buying and selling app Robinhood final week.
“I’m comfortable to work with Republicans on this problem the place there’s widespread floor, however you virtually had me murdered 3 weeks in the past so you’ll be able to sit this one out,” the congresswoman instructed Cruz.
Cruz was among the many conservative Senate Republicans who challenged the US presidential election outcomes throughout a course of that traditionally had been ceremonial.
“Completely satisfied to work with virtually every other [Republicans] that aren’t attempting to get me killed,” Ocasio-Cortez added.
