Latest news with #Aoc
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
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Former MLB star calls out AOC's 'virtue signaling' after antisemitic attack in Colorado
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is striking out with a Jewish former Major League Baseball player over her response to a recent antisemitic attack in Colorado. "We're just at a point now where the Jewish people are just tired. We're tired of having to deal with so much hatred," said Kevin Youkilis, a World Series champion with the Boston Red Sox, during an appearance on "Fox & Friends," Wednesday. His comments come after Ocasio-Cortez posted on social media about the attack, which targeted a pro-Israel group gathered to call for the return of Israeli hostages held in captivity by Hamas. Multiple people were injured when the suspect allegedly used homemade incendiary devices to attack attendees. Suspect Mohamed Sabry Soliman is now facing hate crime, attempted murder, assault and other charges. World Series Champ Calls Out Aoc Over Response To Boulder Attack In her post on X, formerly Twitter, Ocasio-Cortez condemned the violence in Colorado and warned that antisemitism is "on the rise." She called on the public to confront hate "everywhere it exists." Read On The Fox News App But Youkilis said her words rang hollow. Trump Administration Promises Justice For Slain Israeli Couple In Dc Shooting Responding on X, he wrote: "Jews are targeted with violence and it's the same virtue signal post time and time again. What have you done to confront those calling for intifadas in NYC? Until you create a plan of action, your repeated virtue signaling after the violence occurs holds no weight." Youkilis pointed to growing antisemitic rhetoric on college campuses and at protests in New York, some of which have included calls for the dismantling of the Jewish state. He argued that condemning violence after attacks happen isn't enough from lawmakers. "When we hear this rhetoric, and it's pushed out in our universities and on the streets, it just has to stop. It brings a lot of fear. It stokes the violence," he said, referencing protests in the United States that intensified following the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel. 'Squad' Members Condemn Antisemitic Attack In Boulder After Years Of Controversy While he agreed with Ocasio-Cortez that antisemitism is a "moral issue," Youkilis said her actions don't reflect a serious commitment to combating it. Hysterical Town Hall Attendee Interrupts Aoc, Yells About 'Genocide' In Gaza: 'You're A Liar!' The attack in Colorado follows another incident last month in Washington, D.C., where two Israeli diplomats, set to be engaged, were gunned down in an apparent hate crime. The suspect was arrested at the Capital Jewish Museum, and reportedly shouted, "Free, free Palestine." Youkilis said he's seen a noticeable shift in the safety of Jews in America, noting increased security at Jewish community centers, schools, and synagogues. He praised lawmakers, like Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., for speaking out repeatedly against antisemitism. Exclusive Video: Aoc Refuses To Say Whether Democrats' Rhetoric Is Responsible For Tesla Attacks "Ritchie Torres has been fabulous in the way he has spoken out," Youkilis said, urging other lawmakers to follow his example. While Youkilis emphasized his strong belief in the rights of Americans to voice their opinions, he called on public officials to better distinguish between free speech and hate speech. "First Amendment rights are First Amendment rights, and I'm a firm believer in that as an American, and a proud American," said the former first baseman, who served as the Israeli team's hitting coach at the World Baseball Classic in 2023. "But we also have to have our leadership that can decipher between what is hate and how people are [going to] build upon it."Original article source: Former MLB star calls out AOC's 'virtue signaling' after antisemitic attack in Colorado
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Bodega brothel' near schools in AOC's red-light district shut down without her help, local leaders say
QUEENS, N.Y. — A well-known local brothel near two schools in Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's red-light district has been shut down by the NYPD after months of advocacy by local leaders who say the progressive lawmaker did nothing to help them close it. Nicknamed the "bodega brothel" by locals, the establishment was operating on the second floor of a local bodega just off the Roosevelt Avenue strip in Queens, where prostitutes are known for openly soliciting sex on sidewalks, local Democratic district leader Hiram Monserrate told Fox News Digital. Video from inside the brothel reveals five cramped, makeshift rooms divided by wooden panels and shower curtains, each just large enough to hold a bed. Aoc's 'Red Light' District Overrun With Prostitutes As Locals Call Out Mia 'Squad' Member The bodega is located across the street from two public schools, and students have been forced to walk past the sex workers outside the brothel on their way to and from class for months. An hour before Ocasio-Cortez's town hall earlier this month, Fox News Digital observed children walking by with their parents as three women stood outside. On Monday, the NYPD removed the beds from the brothel and padlocked its makeshift wooden door. Read On The Fox News App Monserrate, who led the campaign to shutter the location, stood outside and praised the police for acting. "The shutting down of the 'bodega brothel' was long overdue, but it finally got done," said Monserrate, who also toured the brothel and described the sleazy state of the quarters. "This place is clearly unsightly and unsanitary, and, quite frankly, disgusting," said Monserrate, a former Democratic state senator and council member who said he organized four separate rallies to close down the brothel. Leaders In Aoc's 'Red Light' District Call On Kash Patel To Crush 'Worsening' Gang Crime And Prostitution Monserrate said he and local groups have called on Ocasio-Cortez and other elected officials to advocate for the shuttering of the brothels, but few have helped. "AOC did not play a role at all," said Monserrate, who was chased out of a local square in October because he opposed protesters advocating for prostitution to be allowed in the neighborhood. Ramses Frías, a local Republican city council candidate, also said Ocasio-Cortez never attended a demonstration. "It took the people to come together and rally against this bodega brothel," Frias said. Ocasio-Cortez's office told Fox News Digital it is not commenting on the closure. Monserrate said the area is plagued by prostitutes, many working at the behest of migrant gangs like the 18th Street Gang and Tren de Aragua. He has called on the FBI to intervene along Roosevelt Avenue, citing drug trafficking, illegal gun sales, identity theft and violent crimes. He said he has yet to receive a response, adding his sources have identified at least 20 brothels in the area. In October, New York City Mayor Eric Adams launched a sweeping police crackdown with more than 200 police and state troopers descending on the area. The NYPD told Fox News Digital last month that the clampdown, known as Operation Restore Roosevelt, had resulted in a 37% year-to-date drop in crime in the Roosevelt Avenue zone with more than 1,800 arrests and more than 15,000 summonses. Police did not say if any arrests were made in relation to the shuttering of the location Monday. The New York City Department of Buildings said the location was issued a partial vacate order in December, but Monserrate said it had been used for illicit purposes ever since then. Click To Get The Fox News App Monserrate said the operation Monday was helpful, but many of the problems in the neighborhood still linger. "While we are grateful to the NYPD, the NYC Buildings Department and the mayor's office, we also understand that there is still much to do until we stabilize this community and make it safer and better for all," Monserrate said. "We will continue to rally, call for more brothels to be closed and shine a light on the failed policies that our community has borne the brunt of."Original article source: 'Bodega brothel' near schools in AOC's red-light district shut down without her help, local leaders say
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
AOC's constituents weigh in on presidential run, recall her stunning 2018 political upset
Constituents in Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's New York district are warning Republicans not to underestimate the firebrand progressive lawmaker who caused a sensational political upset in 2018 – as rumors swirl about the four-term congresswoman running for president in 2028. Ocasio-Cortez hosted a town hall in New York City on Friday in the same neighborhood where she unseated longtime Democratic Rep. Joe Crowley to become the nation's youngest congresswoman. Against all odds and with little money, her spectacular win sent shockwaves through the Democratic Party as she effectively ended the political career of Crowley, who at that point was a 10-term incumbent and eyeing being the next House speaker. 'Come For Me' Aoc Taunts Tom Homan After Border Czar Threatened To Refer Her To Justice Department Some political observers say Crowley took Ocasio-Cortez for granted, while her constituents believe attaining the nation's highest office is not beyond her grasp. Fast-forward to 2025 and Ocasio-Cortez has become one of the biggest voices in a party yearning for political leadership. The huge turnouts for her "Fight Oligarchy" tour events alongside Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has fueled speculation she has enough momentum to launch a presidential bid, while she has also raked in $9.6 million in the first three months of the year, beating her own record fundraising haul. Read On The Fox News App Mark LaVergne, who's an independent and was outside Ocasio-Cortez's town hall but did not attend, told Fox News Digital that he believes she has a winning personality. "Don't underestimate her. I mean, that was the mistake Joe Crowley and his people made seven years ago," LaVergne said. "They underestimated her. That was a fatal mistake." Andrew Sokolof Diaz said Ocasio-Cortez's popularity appears to be growing and said it would be an honor to vote for her. "Absolutely, we stand with her. I think she absolutely has the support, not only here in her district, but she has the support nationally, maybe even internationally, to run for president." Sokolof Diaz said. Aleks Itskovich, who traveled from Brooklyn and moved to the U.S. from Russia when he was three years old, said he was inspired by the "Fight Oligarchy" tour and said it proves she connects with the ordinary person. "It goes back to the authenticity," Itskovich said. "I think that she's able to come across as a genuine individual that is able to channel people's concerns directly and feel relatable, honest, that she's not coming from the 1%. She's one of the most successful politicians of this generation, so I want to keep seeing how that goes." Hysterical Town Hall Attendee Interrupts Aoc, Yells About 'Genocide' In Gaza: 'You're A Liar!' However, not all were keen on the potential move, with Woodside resident Mary Madden saying she felt Ocasio-Cortez is too young, while John Szewczuk, who has lived in Jackson Heights for 44 years, said she may be too left wing to win the presidency outright, but he would still back her. About 450 people packed into a local school auditorium to hear Ocasio-Cortez talk about a host of issues ranging from local concerns about a major casino to national issues like Medicaid and the Trump administration's mass deportation efforts. Long lines outside the location caused the event to be delayed for nearly 20 minutes while those who couldn't get in were shuffled into an overflow room across the hall. Inside, attendees gave Ocasio-Cortez a rousingly warm reception and appeared fully supportive of her legislative agenda and her representation of the district to date. Many questions from the audience centered around local issues, calls for a minimum wage hike, how to improve air quality, as well as asking her how she plans on tackling the Trump administration. The loudest applause came when Ocasio-Cortez voiced her opposition to a proposed new casino in Queens, which would be part of new sports and entertainment park. The $8 billion project is being spearheaded by New York Mets' billionaire owner Steve Cohen and has gotten approval from the New York City Council. The congresswoman admitted, however, she doesn't have a say in the matter since it's a state issue and not in her district. Applause also rang out when Ocasio-Cortez dared border czar Tom Homan to arrest her after he previously threatened to refer her to the Justice Department for giving advice to migrants on how to avoid being deported. The town hall went off without a hitch except for an early disruption by a protester who heckled at Ocasio-Cortez about the war in Israel. She was then removed. The town hall took place in a leafy section of Jackson Heights, known for its strong progressive leanings. A major avenue adjacent to the school was recently transformed into an "open street," where traffic was substantially reduced to create more public space for pedestrians, cyclists and community use. "I love it, it's a great neighborhood, it is very diverse, probably one of the most diverse in the world," Szewczuk said. Conversely, the school is about three blocks away from the Roosevelt Avenue commercial strip, which has become notorious for its open-air sex workers, trash-filled streets, crime, drugs and anti-social behavior. Roosevelt Avenue runs along the southern border of Ocasio-Cortez's 14th District, and the strip is shared by Rep. Grace Meng. Fox News Digital observed at least 30 prostitutes soliciting sex along one block of Roosevelt Avenue about an hour after the town hall finished. Some sidewalks along the squalid strip are hard to navigate given the sheer number of people – many of whom are migrants – selling hot food, fruit and vegetables, counterfeit goods and what appeared to be stolen goods. Ocasio-Cortez never mentioned the strip, nor did any attendee ask about it in the question and answers section. While all questions were submitted in advance and Ocasio-Cortez left out a side door the moment the event ended, it appeared it was way down in the list of priorities for those in attendance. Sokolof Diaz and Szewczuk said it's on local politicians to do more, while LaVergne said that Ocasio-Cortez has failed the neighborhood in that respect. LaVergne said he was also still angry that she helped stop Amazon opening a massive headquarters in Queens a few years ago. "I feel very sad. Sometimes you walk by, there's a Dunkin' Donuts I frequent on Roosevelt and 82nd St., and I noticed that above that, there is some sort of thing going on. And I see the look in the eyes of these sex workers," LaVergne said. "I really feel sorry for them. Some of them are here probably under difficult situations. Maybe they were forced here, maybe they're forced to do this kind of work. You've got to take care of the people that'll get you elected. I mean, that just seems like the most just thing. That's justice. Taking care of the people who got you elected."Original article source: AOC's constituents weigh in on presidential run, recall her stunning 2018 political upset
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘COME FOR ME': AOC taunts Tom Homan after DOJ referral threat over deportations
Queens, N.Y.: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., threw down the gauntlet to Tom Homan on Friday after the border czar previously threatened to refer her to the Justice Department for giving advice to migrants on how to avoid being deported. Ocasio-Cortez told attendees at a Queens town hall event that she was not afraid of the words from the immigration hardliner in the wake of her office hosting a "Know your Rights" webinar in February. Homan has suggested her actions might be illegal and may impede Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from carrying out the Trump administration's mass deportations. "Tom Homan said he was going to refer me to DOJ because I'm using my free speech rights in order to advise people of their constitutional protections. To that I say: Come for me, do I look like I care?" Ocasio-Cortez told a cheering crowd. Hysterical Town Hall Attendee Interrupts Aoc, Yells About 'Genocide' In Gaza: 'You're A Liar!' Ocasio-Cortez asserted that there was "nothing illegal about it and if they want to make it illegal, they can come take me." In February, Ocasio-Cortez's office hosted a live webinar advising migrants in her district about their rights if they come face to face looking to deport them. Read On The Fox News App People were recommended to ask for warrants, record searches if ICE came calling and were given tips on how to differentiate between different warrants ICE agents are likely to carry. That led to Homan suggesting the New York Democrat could be crossing a line. "I'm working with the Department of Justice and finding out. Where is that line that they cross? So maybe AOC is going to be in trouble now," he said after the event. "What she needs to do is read the statutes enacted by Congress… because it's a crime to enter this country illegally," the Trump border czar said separately on "Sunday Morning Futures." Aoc Claims 'We Are One' In Campaign-style Video Despite Years Of Invoking Race, Gender In Politics "Not only that, but when you harbor and conceal and impede law enforcement, that's a felony. What she's doing, she says she's educating everybody on their constitutional rights, and we all know they've got constitutional rights, but what she's really doing… she's trying to teach them how to evade law enforcement." Ocasio-Cortez on Friday also attacked the Trump administration's approach to border security and immigration, referring to its deportation of Venezuelan gang members as "sanctioned kidnappings." "I don't even want to call them deportations. They are sanctioned kidnappings in many circumstances," the congresswoman told attendees. "They do not have carte blanche to enter. If they do want to knock on your door, or knock on anyone's door — including your workplace — you can tell them, 'Show me a warrant. Show me a judicial warrant.' And if they don't show you a warrant, you can say they can come back with a warrant. You have the right to turn them away." Ocasio-Cortez was speaking to a packed auditorium full of hundreds for attendees. Those who couldn't get in sat in an overflow room across the hall. Attendees gave the progressive lawmaker a warm reception and, bar one disruptor, appeared fully supportive of her legislative agenda and her representation of the district to date. Many questions from the audience centered around local issues, calls for a minimum wage hike, how to improve air quality as well as asking her how she plans on tackling the Trump administration. The loudest applause came when Ocasio-Cortez voiced her opposition to a proposed new casino at Citi Field, which would be part of new sports and entertainment park. It has gotten approval from the New York City Council, although the congresswoman said she doesn't have a say in the matter since it's a state issue as well as not being in her district. The event was mostly uneventful except for an early disruption by a protester who began shouting at Ocasio-Cortez about the "genocide" in Gaza. "I am a healthcare worker and I want to know what you're doing about the genocide in Gaza," the protester started shouting at the congresswoman. "Shame! Shame! Shame!" the audience began shouting at the disruptor. Audible "boos" could be heard as well before she was eventually led out by security. Fox News' Alec Schemmel and Taylor Penney contributed to this report. Original article source: 'COME FOR ME': AOC taunts Tom Homan after DOJ referral threat over deportations
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hysterical town hall attendee interrupts AOC, yells about 'genocide' in Gaza: 'You're a liar!'
A hysterical protester yelling about the "genocide" in Gaza interrupted a district town hall event being held by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., shortly after it began on Friday night. As Ocasio-Cortez first began speaking, she pulled up a PowerPoint presentation for the night's event. She was then interrupted before even getting through her first slide discussing the Trump administration's budget cuts, including alleged cuts to local healthcare systems. "I am a healthcare worker and I want to know what you're doing about the genocide in Gaza!" the protester started shouting at the congresswoman. Watch: Aoc Leaves Door Open For 2028 Presidential Bid As Campaign Buzz Soars "Shame! Shame! Shame!" the audience began shouting at the disruptor. Audible "boos" could be heard as well. Ocasio-Cortez attempted to appease the disruptor, but nothing she could say calmed the person down. Staff at the event allowed the disruptor to continue yelling until they approached her and eventually led her out voluntarily. Read On The Fox News App "Shame on you, you're a liar. You're a liar!" the woman screamed as others began to boo at her. "Shame on you, I used to support you," the woman shouted as she exited. "You're a war criminal! War criminal! War Criminal!" Aoc Claims 'We Are One' In Campaign-style Video Despite Years Of Invoking Race, Gender In Politics Ocasio-Cortez responded to the protester after things quieted down. "I more than welcome people who disagree, or are super pissed off at me for any issue to come, but we have some ground rules here," she told the town hall's attendees. "Please wait for the Q&A, because we don't want to deprive all of our neighbors of the ability to have information and hearing them respond to it… We need to be able to have this conversation." As rumors swirl over Ocasio-Cortez's ambition for higher office, the congresswoman raked in a massive $9.6 million over the past three months. The record-breaking fundraising haul was one of the biggest ever for any House lawmaker. Ocasio-Cortez's team highlighted that the fundraising came from 266,000 individual donors, with an average contribution of just $21. "I cannot convey enough how grateful I am to the millions of people supporting us with your time, resources, & energy. Your support has allowed us to rally people together at record scale to organize their communities," Ocasio-Cortez emphasized in a social media article source: Hysterical town hall attendee interrupts AOC, yells about 'genocide' in Gaza: 'You're a liar!'
