AOC Campaign Event Sparks Antisemitic Chants Amid Protests
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign event in Ithaca drew antisemitic chants from students, raising concerns over political rhetoric.
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During a campaign event in Ithaca, New York, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) faced criticism after students led antisemitic chants, including the slogan ‘From the river to the sea,’ which is widely recognized as a call for the destruction of Israel as a Jewish state. The event, part of Ocasio-Cortez’s ‘Students vs. Billionaires’ town hall, attracted around 2000 Democratic socialist-aligned college students.
Students Lead Chants Against Israel
The protest was led by Cornell University Young Democratic Socialists of America co-chairs Mina Petrova and Zoe Reisman, who incited the crowd with anti-establishment rhetoric. Petrova criticized Cornell for being a ‘capitalist institution’ that prioritizes profits over students, claiming it is controlled by ‘CEO trustees’ profiting from ‘genocide and war.’
Ocasio-Cortez Aligns with Student Protests
Ocasio-Cortez herself did not distance herself from the antisemitic chants, instead supporting the student-led demonstrations. She praised the students for standing up against perceived corporate and institutional oppression, stating, ‘When we come out in numbers, they cannot take us all.’
Chant Recognized as Antisemitic
The chant ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’ has been condemned as antisemitic, with the U.S. House of Representatives declaring it hateful in 2024. However, Ocasio-Cortez voted against the resolution, aligning herself with the chanting students.
Event Seen as Political Strategy
While the event was advertised as a way to boost Democratic turnout, many observers viewed it as part of Ocasio-Cortez’s broader political strategy, potentially aimed at building support for a future run for the U.S. Senate or even the presidential nomination.
Governor Kathy Hochul (D-NY) had initially planned to attend another event with Ocasio-Cortez, but she withdrew due to concerns over an incoming major storm system affecting the Northeast.
Source: Daily Wire
