- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Opens at an Earth Day Event at the White House
- He applauded the “leadership” of pro-Palestinian protesters on campuses
- President Joe Biden said “listen to that lady” and then condemned anti-Semitism
Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez applauded pro-Palestinian protesters Monday as she opened for President Joe Biden at an Land Day event in Virginia.
AOC and her fellow progressives, Senators Bernie Sanders and Ed Markey, were chosen to be the opening act at an event where the president announced an expansion of the American Climate Corps, a green jobs training program and more money for panels residential plots.
When it was Ocasio-Cortez’s turn to speak, she noted that Biden’s federal investment in climate change was due to the “power of organizing,” bringing together “young people, climate advocates, labor organizers and workers of all backgrounds.”
“It is especially important that we remember the power of the young people who are shaping this country today, precisely today, as we witness once again the leadership of those peaceful protests led by students at universities like Columbia, Yale, Berkeley and many others” , Ocasio. -Cortés said.
Moments later, Biden took the stage and praised AOC, telling the crowd, “You know, I learned a long time ago: listen to that lady, listen to that lady.”
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (left) praised pro-Palestinian protesters Monday at an Land Day event in Virginia as she opened for President Joe Biden (right). Over the weekend, several anti-Semitic incidents were reported at protests at Columbia University.
“You know, I learned a long time ago: Listen to that lady, listen to that lady,” President Joe Biden (left) told the Earth Day crowd about AOC (right). He also said, “We’re going to talk more about another part of the world too quickly,” a hint that they would talk about the Middle East.
“We’re going to talk more about another part of the world too quickly,” he said, an indication that they would talk about the Middle East after the official program ended.
Biden and the New York Democrat could be seen cuddling afterward and also holding hands as they left the stage.
The president and the so-called Squad, which includes AOC, have not seen eye to eye on the issue of Israel after the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7.
While Ocasio-Cortez praised the student protesters, over the weekend protesters on and off the Columbia campus veered into anti-Semitic territory.
White House spokesman Andrew Bates condemned the actions of these protesters.
“While every American has the right to peacefully protest, calls for violence and physical intimidation against Jewish students and the Jewish community are blatantly anti-Semitic, unconscionable, and dangerous,” Bates said in a statement.
When asked Monday about these incidents, the president made a similar observation.
‘I condemn anti-Semitic protests. That’s why I’ve created a program to address this,” Biden told reporters as he left Virginia.
“I also condemn those who do not understand what is happening to the Palestinians,” the president also offered.