AOC Tells Abortion Advocates To Escalate Protests

Robert SchmadJune 24, 2022

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) on Friday joined protesters outside the Supreme Court to call the institution “illegitimate” and urge supporters “into the streets” to fight for abortion, following a landmark opinion overturning Roe v. Wade.

Pro-life and pro-abortion activists gathered outside the Court in anticipation of a ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, in which a 6-3 majority voted to overturn Roe. Ocasio-Cortez took to a megaphone to voice her disapproval after the ruling was announced, spurring protesters on to “a generational fight.”

BREAKING: Congresswoman @AOC has arrived in front of the Supreme Court and is chanting that the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade is “illegitimate” and calls for people to get “into the streets” | @TPUSA pic.twitter.com/jNkCYDrLtz

— Drew Hernandez (@DrewHLive) June 24, 2022

A recent Department of Homeland Security report warned about the rising likelihood of violence in the wake of the ruling. Ocasio-Cortez is one of 27 House Democrats who recently opposed a bill that bolstered security measures for the justices, following protests outside their homes. The legislation was held up in the House because Democrats had conditioned its passage on adding similar security for Court clerks.

Calls to pass the measure grew more urgent after an armed man was arrested outside the home of Justice Brett Kavanaugh earlier this month. The gunman later confessed to plans to assassinate the justice.

“The hell with the Supreme Court—we will defy them,” Rep. Maxine Waters (D., Calif.) also told protesters. “Women will be in control of their bodies.”

“You see this out here?” Waters added, referencing the size of the protest outside the Court. “You ain’t seen nothing yet.”

Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) said on Fox News he believes there is a “real risk of violence” following the decision. He condemned Democrats whom he believes are inciting it.