ITHACA, NEW YORK — A Colorful Welcome for AOC
Cornell University’s progressive students greeted Democratic Socialist icon Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez with a mixture of enthusiasm and pointed chants during a campaign event aimed at rallying support for Democrats ahead of the midterm elections on Sunday.
The event, a “Students vs. Billionaires” town hall held in downtown Ithaca, attracted around 2,000 attendees. Co-chairs Mina Petrova and Zoe Reisman from the Cornell University Young Democratic Socialists of America led the crowd in chants that included “from the river to the sea” and calls for a “long live the student intifada.” There was definitely a palpable energy in the room, which some might describe as both inspiring and contentious.
Petrova, addressing the audience inside the Ithaca Downtown Conference Center, voiced criticism of Cornell, labeling it a “fundamentally capitalist institution” focused on profit and prioritizing billionaires over students. The applause that followed seemed to reflect a shared sentiment among many in attendance.
This town hall, organized in collaboration with the activist group More Perfect University, was framed by AOC’s campaign as part of a broader strategy to energize Democratic voters in strongholds before the upcoming November elections.
Ocasio-Cortez, who is working to strengthen her public image as she considers a potential presidential or Senate run, criticized Cornell for allegedly stifling free speech among student protesters. She highlighted various issues, such as those surrounding Palestine and unionization efforts, emphasizing the need to respond to what she views as repression of dissent.
“Whether it’s about Palestine or other matters—like attempting to prevent people from forming unions—we must address that initial crackdown,” she noted, and the crowd seemed to resonate with her message.
Interestingly, the chant “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” has faced significant backlash, being labeled antisemitic by the U.S. House of Representatives. Critics argue that it calls for the elimination of Israel. What complicates matters further is Ocasio-Cortez’s vote against a resolution that labeled the phrase as hateful, which raises questions about her stance.
Having gained prominence in the political arena by defeating Queens Democratic leader Joe Crowley in 2018, Ocasio-Cortez had plans to appear alongside Governor Kathy Hochul earlier that same day. However, Hochul’s office later announced that she would not join AOC due to the nor’easter impacting New York City, though it’s worth noting that Hochul had no public events scheduled for Sunday.
