Calls for Pandemic Amnesty and the Woke Movement
In late 2022, economist Emily Brown, among many who had uncritically supported stringent COVID-19 measures that devastated lives, proposed that Americans should “forgive and forget,” coining her notion as “Pandemic Amnesty.”
Similarly, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) seems to be looking for a similar reprieve—not for the pandemic, but for the Democratic Party’s recent radical policies and divisive language.
Bishop Robert Barron, of the Catholic Diocese of Winona and Rochester, responded critically to Ocasio-Cortez’s dismissal of what she termed “Walk 1” as “crazy.” He remarked that her comments were an oversimplification of previous discussions, suggesting they were more damaging than she acknowledged.
In an exchange with ABC’s Jonathan Karl, Ocasio-Cortez defended Francesca Hong, a progressive figure who previously advocated for extreme measures such as dismantling police and the U.S. Senate. She implied that Hong’s past radicalism was outdated.
When questioned about whether the movement had shifted too far, Karl highlighted Ocasio-Cortez’s previous stance on defunding the police. Ocasio-Cortez, however, argued that the conversations ignited during the pandemic were productive, even beneficial. “I think the discussions that took place at that time were extremely fruitful,” she stated.
Bishop Barron joined others in condemning Ocasio-Cortez’s remarks, reminding her that she had been a prominent advocate for radical changes—supporting an agenda that, as he claimed, caused real harm to society. He elaborated on how the culture of “walkism” had led to many individuals losing their jobs and reputations due to backlash against the prevailing narrative.
Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas) expressed similar sentiments, suggesting that one cannot fundamentally alter a nation’s framework and then frame it as a mere misunderstanding when faced with public disapproval.
Activist Robbie Starbuck also pointed out the unpopularity of the woke movement, questioning the validity of tenets upheld by the Socialist Party.
