A town hall hosted by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D.N.Y.). Touting the obvious benefits of the Green New Deal left some attendees red-faced with anger Thursday.
Speaking at an event in Queens, New York, the socialist lawmaker was heckled by two attendees who accused her of caring more about illegal immigrants than the people she was elected to represent. One of her hecklers, Jonathan David Rinaldi, said he was running for Ocasio-Cortez’s House seat.
“My name is Jonathan David Rinaldi, and I’m running for Congress against AOC. The Green New Deal is a fraud,” Ocasio-Cortez defends the deal’s environmental justice provisions and climate change policies. Mr. Rinaldi shouted as he did so.
Socialist Party lawmaker Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was heckled at City Hall on Thursday and accused of caring more about illegal immigrants than the people she was elected to represent. (Fox News)
The Green New Deal is back and more radical than ever
“They’re giving away NYCHA apartments and giving illegal aliens $10,000 a day…AOC, I want you to debate me, I want you to debate me.”
NYCHA (New York City Housing Authority) is the agency that oversees the city’s public housing projects, and Rinaldi told Fox News Digital that lawmakers are trying to force illegal immigrants to move into these developments at the expense of citizens. He said he was thinking about it.
Ocasio-Cortez was seen smiling on stage as security tried to remove Rinaldi.
Then another man got up from his seat and joined in the shouting.
“Secure the border now,” the man barked, waving his finger at Ocasio-Cortez.
“Not one word was said about violent Venezuelan immigrants or illegal aliens.”
“You don’t care. All you care about is illegal aliens and their votes. You don’t care about voters.”
“That’s all you care about, you shameful person.”
Climate activists speak at this week’s Green New Deal press conference. (Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Biden’s green energy tax cuts will hurt America, help China
The man was quickly drowned out by Ocasio-Cortez supporters shouting “AOC, AOC” and clapping their hands.
The man was also referring to the vicious attack by immigrants who attacked the New York City Police Department last month.
“Each one of us is being sold out by the people who brought illegal aliens to vote,” Rinaldi shouted as he was led out of the venue.
He then clashed with an Ocasio-Cortez supporter, then turned around and heckled the congressman again.
“You’re just representing illegal aliens.”
Well, obviously not, I’m an elected official, so keep pushing,” Ocasio-Cortez retorted.
After the men were removed from the venue, Ocasio-Cortez commented on her stance on immigration.
“Clearly, this community, Astoria, Jackson Heights, the Bronx and beyond, clearly supports progressive immigration policies that welcome all of our neighbors.”
“We unequivocally support a path to citizenship, and we unequivocally support an end to our harsh immigration policies. That’s why you… They support us because we have had enough.”
Her comment drew applause and the woman shouted, “Thank you.”
In August, dozens of immigrants gather outside the Roosevelt Hotel.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“We have seen the anti-immigrant voices in this country be very loud, but it is a very small minority, and we need to look around and support our neighbors and recognize the fact that We need to recognize how many people are here. Virtually all of us are immigrants, indigenous people, or descendants of slaves,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
Hecklers are demonstrating against illegal immigrants, not all immigrants.
Illegal and legal immigrants are prohibited from voting, but the New York City Council passed a bill in 2021 that would give noncitizens who have lived in the country for at least 30 days the right to vote. New York City Mayor Eric Adams enacted the law upon taking office in January 2022, but it was ruled illegal months later, and the New York State Court of Appeals rejected an appeal of the ruling.
Nearly 7.3 million immigrants have illegally crossed the Southwest border under President Biden’s watch, outnumbering the population of 36 states. A Fox News analysis found that.
New York City has accepted more than 178,600 immigrants since spring 2022, and about 65,000 people remain in city custody, according to the mayor’s office.
FOX News’ Luis Casiano contributed to this report.
