Like many, I watched in shame upon learning that Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was verbally assaulted on the steps of the United States Capitol. As difficult as it was to hear her describe the denigrated language hurled against her, sadly, she shared that this was one of many assaults that she had encountered. Ocasio-Cortez did not mince words. Now a part of the congressional record, excerpts from her statement to congress follows.
“About two days ago…I was minding my own business, walking up the steps, and Rep. Yoho put his finger in my face: he called me ‘disgusting’, he called me ‘crazy’, he called me ‘out of my mind’, and he called me ‘dangerous’.”
“I walked back out, and there were reporters in the front of the Capitol, and in front of reporters, Representative Yoho called me, and I quote, ‘a f*****g b****.’”
Hearing her words, I had to remind myself that she was actually describing a scene at the Capitol, and not some drunken tirade that happened in a sleazy bar. Ocasio-Cortez renounced the GOP culture that is “accepting of violence and violent language against women.” She gave poignant examples of how she has been targeted with racist, sexist and xenophobic insults.
She stated, “Not only have I been spoken to disrespectfully, particularly by members of the Republican Party and elected officials in the Republican Party, not just here, but the President of the United States last year told me to ‘go home to another country,’ with the implication that I don’t even belong in America. The Governor of Florida, Governor DeSantis, before I even was sworn in, called me a ‘whatever-that-is.’ Dehumanizing language is not new.”
The Capitol purports to stand for rights, liberty and justice. However, at the time of publication of this blog, neither the President of the United States nor any member of the Republican Party had denounced the appalling actions of Representative Ted Yoho.
How do we live in a nation where our elected leaders sit in silence as a fellow member of Congress stands accosted? How do we live in a nation that refuses to call wrong wrong?
Blogger: Dr. Krishauna Hines-Gaither
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