AOC demands New Yorkers ‘pull up’ to Alabama while speaking behind bulletproof glass

MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA: Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez drew heat after urging progressives to head South during a voting rights rally in Montgomery, Alabama, while delivering her remarks from behind bulletproof glass on May 16.

Standing at the Alabama State Capitol and framed by clear protective glass, the New York Democrat called on supporters in blue states to head into Republican-led territory as Democrats and Black leaders push back after the Supreme Court’s decision affecting the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

The court’s April 29 ruling gave Louisiana Republicans authority to redraw the state’s congressional map and eliminate a majority-Black district ahead of the November midterms. Roughly 15 other states are also involved in ongoing redistricting fights.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez calls for the North to head South

“I am here today because I want to make sure that we all understand that Montgomery is not alone, that you all are not alone,” Ocasio-Cortez told the crowd at the All Roads Lead to the South voting rights rally.

“And for all of you watching today, when they ask, 'What do you do in this moment? I feel helpless. What action can I take?' It is time for the North to pull up to the South! It is time for New York to pull up to Alabama,” she said.

Ocasio-Cortez expanded the message beyond Alabama.

“It is time for all of us to come to Georgia, to Louisiana, to Tennessee, to Mississippi, and let them know exactly what they have uncorked with this injustice,” she continued.

Also appearing at the rally was Sen Cory Booker, who delivered a call to action.

“This is one of those moments where we understand that our blessings come with obligation. There is no liberation without obligation,” Booker said. “Because if we, in our generation, do not now do our duty, we will lose the gains and the rights and the liberties that our ancestors afforded us.”

Conservatives zero in on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's remark, use of bulletproof glass

While the speech landed well with supporters in attendance, critics outside the rally quickly seized on the protective barrier surrounding the congresswoman as she delivered the remarks, Fox News reported.

Todd Spears, a conservative content creator and co-host of the 'Dear America Podcast', posted a clip of the speech to his nearly 30,000 TikTok followers and mocked the setup.

“[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 hometown. You come down here starting that sh**, you better bring a tank. That's not a good idea. You stay where you're at.”

Spears also pointed out that Ocasio-Cortez was speaking in Alabama, not in her home state of New York. “AOC talking about the North ‘rolling up’ on the South and Alabama like this is still the 1860s is wild," he added in the caption. “Maybe politicians should spend less time trying to divide Americans and more time fixing the mess we already have. Because when people keep pushing division, nobody wins."

Another TikTok creator, Kei Bennett, also pushed back with a more tongue-in-cheek warning for Ocasio-Cortez's supporters.

“I want to issue a stern warning so you do not take her advice and pull up on Alabama,” Bennett said, joking about everything from wild hogs and bayou gators to locals who “will not hesitate to unite and get you the f*** up out of here.”

“Down here in the South, we don't call cops, we call coroners,” Bennett added. “Stay your a** up there, leave us alone. We ain't bothering nobody.”