Ocasio-Cortez on Being Hunted

For 88 minutes on Instagram I watched Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez talk about what she experienced at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

As she spoke, emotionally and sometimes scattered, I felt myself tear up a few times. The idea of hiding from danger in one’s own workplace hit me strongly. The questions about who to trust felt unthinkable, yet clearly it was her reality in the moment. A Capitol officer never identified himself as such — whose side was he on? With pounding on her office door, screams of “Where is she?” and her body crouched, she wondered if this was how it would all end.

Later, sheltering with Rep. Katie Porter in her office, Ocasio-Cortez’ dread of having worn high heels that day landed on me with familiarity. I had been afraid to wear heels into Manhattan for months after September 11th because I needed to be able to run.

This Congresswoman was one of the hunted on Jan. 6. Please take a moment to ask yourself why.

Because she backs Medicare for All? Because she helped create the Green New Deal? Because she holds progressive beliefs?

Because Tucker Carlson’s unhealthy obsession with her caused her popularity to skyrocket — even among Democrats who had never heard of her — the moment she was elected to Congress? Because Carlson’s laser focus spawned an unhealthy scrutiny of her…