The Capitol Attack through AOC’s Perspective

Lauren Wiles
Jan 14, 2021
2 min read

Updated: Oct 27, 2022

On 6 January, the US Capitol was raided and police were violently attacked by Trump’s supporters in retaliation to the US election last November.

For the first time since the attack, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez spoke out yesterday afternoon on Instagram Live about witnessing it all first hand.

“I had a very close encounter where I thought I was going to die…” – Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on her initial reaction of the US Capitol attack

It seems as if she is in the midst of a war torn-country as Ocasio-Cortez stated that she didn’t feel safe as she was forced to shelter with her Republican peers, who not only refused to wear masks during a deadly global pandemic but also stood in solidarity with the violent mob.

“There were QAnon and white supremacist sympathisers and frankly, white supremacist members of congress in that extraction point who I know and who I have felt would disclose my location and would create opportunities to allow me to be hurt, (or) kidnapped”

During the livestream, she was extremely disappointed with the President’s reaction to the attack. She said: “Donald Trump cannot be President. We cannot wait until January 19th, We cannot wait until January 20th , We cannot wait until inauguration day. He cannot be President. Right. Now.”.

She voiced her anger at her Republican colleagues by branding them as cowards for not calling out President Trump’s behaviour and being complicit throughout Trump’s Presidency. Various people from the President’s cabinet have chosen to resign right after the attack. She said: “You’re not gonna resign on Wednesday and act like you weren’t a part of it. Were you secretary on Wednesday? Yes you were. You were a part of it… those five-people’s blood is on your hands.”

She looked at the bigger picture and believed that the motive behind the attempted insurrection is due to white supremacy and not a rigged, stolen election. That they care more about the “mythology of whiteness more than the grandeur of (our) democracy”.

“They don’t give a damn about the law. They don’t give a damn about order. They don’t give a damn about safety. They give a damn about white supremacy… they lust for power more than they care about democracy.”

The attack on the 6th shows that more than ever, law and order can be taken away if democracy is questioned.

The full livestream can be seen below.