In the era of partisan politics, Socialism has wiggled its way out of the taboo and is making attempts to be a conventional ideology in American politics.
Socialism, also labeled Democratic Socialism, has loud but few supporters in power, such as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and in particular, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).
Also known as 'AOC' Ocasio-Cortez made her fame beating long-time incumbent Joe Crowley (D-NY) in the 2018 Democrat Primary to represent District 14 of New York.
Considering that she is relatively young and a self-proclaimed Socialist, nobody expected her to condemn the demonstrations that populated cities last Summer in the name of police brutality.
In fact, AOC was so vocal about her support for the Black Lives Matter movement that she characterized potential acts of violence as a necessity.
The representative said that these marginalized US communities, 'Have no choice but to riot.'
However, after the congresswoman was in attendance at Capitol Hill on January 6th, she responded to the Trump protestors as, 'attackers on the nation.' In response to her colleague, Rep. Cori Bush's (D-MO) Tweet of her resolution to expel Republican members of congress.
Additionally, Congress must pass @RepCori’s resolution to investigate for sanction and expulsion any member of Congress who helped incite this attack on our nation. https://t.co/0mCNm590Uo
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 7, 2021
Right-wing Twitter users eventually caught onto this inconsistency, with an old video of AOC where she justified the civil unrest by promoting her agenda of healthcare for all, Black Lives Matter, and ending police brutality.
The video below is a recording of AOC on May 30, 2020, speaking in regard to the civil unrest that occurred last Summer.
.@AOC: If you're calling for an end to unrest, but not calling out police brutality, not calling for health care as a human right, not calling for an end to housing discrimination, all you're asking for is the continuation of quiet oppression. pic.twitter.com/4qiCCxKvdl
— Public Citizen (@Public_Citizen) May 30, 2020
This video was soon recovered by Twitter users and applied to AOC's much-rivaling response to the civil unrest in the Capitol this week.
This would then prompt AOC's Communications Director to ask Twitter to cut off users from pointing this out, claiming that it makes AOC looks like she, 'supports violence.'
.@AOC’s Comms Director here. Right-wing accounts are taking the last tweet from this old thread on the ‘defund’ mvmnt & twisting it to imply AOC supports violence like what’s happening at the Capitol. We asked @Twitter to stop the misinfo, but as we wait, you can help with a RT. https://t.co/BCiUco2H3l
— Lauren Hitt (@LaurenHitt) January 6, 2021
As the people of this country, we do not ask that Representative Cortez change her convictions, but realize that the people have a duty to point out these inconsistencies when seen fit.
We can not continue to allow politicians to endorse or condemn violence varying on who the insurrectionists are. Outbursts of any stride that we have seen this year do not contribute to the progress of this nation. We have an obligation to alter the nation through the fair and legal means laid before us.
And most importantly, big tech should not handle the campaign affairs of various politicians.
