Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York, is facing criticism from conservatives in the southern United States following a passionate speech she delivered in Montgomery, Alabama, last week. During her address, she called on progressives in the North to actively engage in the political landscape of the South.
At the “All Roads Lead to The South” rally on May 16, the influential member of the “Squad” argued that the United States only became a true democracy with the passage of the Voting Rights Act in the 1960s. She did not hold back in her critique of the Supreme Court, accusing it, under Chief Justice John Roberts, of contributing to a historical pattern of regression and repression in America.
Ocasio-Cortez issued a bold challenge, urging people from northern states to head to traditionally conservative states like Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Mississippi to combat what she described as political injustice.
Following the rally, she reinforced her message through social media, stating, “If you’re not from these states, it’s time to pull up.”
Her remarks quickly drew backlash from conservatives online, who highlighted the irony of her urging others to “pull up” while she delivered her speech from behind bulletproof glass for security reasons.
Conservative podcaster Todd Spears added fuel to the fire with a TikTok video that went viral, amassing a million views. In the video, he mocked the security measures surrounding Ocasio-Cortez during her speech.
“[Pull up] and do what? Help us get the boat off the trailer, like cut the grass, track a deer in the woods?” Spears said.
“Roll up and do what exactly? Because you’re standing behind, like, pope glass in your own hometown. You come down here starting that s—, you better bring a tank. That’s not a good idea. You stay where you’re at.”
Spears also criticized the divisive nature of her remarks, writing in the video caption that “AOC talking about the North ‘rolling up’ on the South and Alabama, like this is still the 1860s, is wild.”
“Maybe politicians should spend less time trying to divide Americans and more time fixing the mess we already have,” he added.
Another TikTok creator, Kei Bennett, whose video garnered more than 800,000 views, warned Ocasio-Cortez’s supporters not to take the bait.
“I want to issue a stern warning so you do not take her advice and pull up on Alabama,” Bennett said, jokingly citing local dangers ranging from wild hogs and bayou gators to locals who “will not hesitate to unite and get you the f— up out of here.”
Bennett, who has more than half a million followers on the platform, warned the congresswoman’s followers that “down here in the South we don’t call cops, we call coroners,” adding, “Stay your a– up there, leave us alone. We ain’t bothering nobody.”
Ocasio-Cortez’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
