Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) delivered a speech in Montgomery, Alabama, on May 16, calling on northern progressives to travel to Southern states to combat political injustice. Speaking at the 'All Roads Lead to The South' rally, Ocasio-Cortez argued that the U.S. was not a true democracy until the 1960s Voting Rights Act and criticized the Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Roberts for what she described as a history of regression and repression. She urged supporters to 'pull up' to states like Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Mississippi to address political injustice. The congresswoman reiterated her message on social media, writing, 'If you're not from these states, it's time to pull up.'
Conservative critics quickly responded, highlighting the irony of Ocasio-Cortez's call to action while she spoke behind bulletproof glass. Conservative podcaster Todd Spears went viral with a TikTok video mocking her security setup, asking, '[Pull up] and do what? Help us get the boat off the trailer, like cut the grass, track a deer in the woods?' Spears also criticized the divisive nature of her remarks, suggesting she should 'stay where you're at.'
The speech and subsequent social media posts have sparked a debate over political activism, regional tensions, and the role of security for public figures.