AOC Recounts the ‘Pretty Traumatizing Event’ of the Capitol Attack
On January 12, six days after the Capitol riot, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez held a one-hour Instagram live stream discussing her experience on January 6.
Rep. Ocasio-Cortez started off by stating that the people who broke into the Capitol were committing an act of insurrection and an act of sedition. According to Marie Claire, nearly 100,000 people tuned in to watch the live stream with the U.S. representative for New York’s 14th congressional district.
She called out Senator Ted Cruz, Senator Josh Hawley, and the “many members of Congress” who cast their vote “not out of genuine belief” but of “political ambition.” Rep. Ocasio-Cortez believes that the actions of the government that supported President Trump enabled violent domestic terrorists.
To my colleagues in Congress – here’s a novel thought: instead of pledging allegiance to your donor class or a violent mob, why don’t you cast your vote based on the right thing to do?
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 13, 2021
You either defend ALL the people or you protect that mob. It’s really not that complicated. pic.twitter.com/4mWShOVSWK
She went on to relay her experience on the day itself. She said that she had a “very close encounter where I thought I was going to die.” Many of the other members of Congress had similar concerns about safety on that day. Rep. Ocasio said that this sense of danger and fear of dying that day was “not just in a general sense, but also in a very, very specific sense.”
tw: capital attack/ death
— jen is in her CLOWN ERA (@juliesmelody) January 13, 2021
aoc really just said on her live that she can’t say anything about her experience during the capital attack because she had a close encounter where she thought she was going to lose her life…..I cant even begin to imagine how she felt that day.
This day has left Congress members and staff processing their trauma. Rep. Ocasio-Cortez states that “there have been a lot of counselors and there have been physicians in the House” teaching them about trauma response and what they can do to help themselves. She also mentioned that the events of the Capitol attack could be triggering to anyone with past traumas and that it is good to reach out to therapists and loved ones to address their mental health.
When they were being ushered to a secure location, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez says that “she herself did not feel safe” because many of the Republican Congress members “refused to wear masks.”
She also spoke on the rise of white supremacy and anti-Semitism and that neither the Blue Lives Matter movement nor valuing Confederacy is valid. After all, the Confederacy was never a part of the United States. She also said that she does not want to “ hear these coup-supporting GOP talk about “blue lives” ever again. They never cared about safety. Never cared about “law and order.” And certainly do not care for democracy. They only care for power and invited chaos in an effort to seize it. “They are unfit to serve.”
Yo. Everyone watch @AOC Instagram live. Here’s a clip of the whole dang truth. pic.twitter.com/79UU8RqNlu
— Yasha the REBORN (@jasminerocha) January 13, 2021
As Representative Ocasio-Cortez continues to share her honest opinions with her followers on social media, you can follow her on Instagram and Twitter.
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