AOC Event at Cornell University Sparks Controversy

At a recent event for Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in New York, organized by Cornell University’s Young Democratic Socialists of America, attendees engaged in singing the slogan ‘from the river to the sea’. This phrase, viewed by some as anti-Israel, was chanted by a crowd of around 2,000 people under the direction of Mina Petrova, the group’s president, and Zoe Reisman, co-chair.

The gathering, identified by Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign as a ‘Students vs. Billionaires’ town hall, aimed to address issues like capitalism at Cornell. Petrova criticized the university as prioritizing profits over students, earning applause from the audience.

The Democratic Socialists of America’s Liberation Caucus announced it would not endorse Ocasio-Cortez for a 2028 presidential run, underlining internal disagreements.

Reisman emphasized solidarity with oppressed peoples worldwide and declared student activism alive. Meanwhile, the group did not respond to media inquiries for comments.

Ocasio-Cortez took the stage without issuing apologies. She accused Cornell of censorship, citing issues like union formation and other silenced voices as vital causes to support. Notably, she stated, ‘When we come out in numbers, they cannot take us all.’

Her campaign focuses on increasing voter turnout in Democratic areas. However, polling suggests Americans generally hold unfavorable views of groups like the Democratic Socialists of America.

A recent Fox News poll indicated that 55% of voters view the DSA negatively, while only 30% see it positively. This reflects skepticism toward the socialist movement in the U.S. and aligns with GOP strategies for upcoming elections.

Reporter Anders Hagstrom contributed to this coverage.