A town hall that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez attempted to host in the Queens area of New York City went less than well for her in February of 2024, as not all those who showed up were there to support her. In fact, many heckled her and appeared to be spurred on in doing so by their seething anger at her policies.
Particularly, residents appeared furious with AOC’s priorities, particularly with how she has focused on things like helping illegal immigrants and promoting various policy items under the so-called Green New Deal rather than focusing on what would be best and most helpful for her Queens-area constituents.
One of the hecklers, for example, was a man who is apparently named Jonathan Rinaldi and he hammered AOC over the Green New Deal and illegal immigration while shouting that he would challenge her for her seat (AOC won the primary handily and appears set to win the general election similarly easily).
Rinaldi first declared, “My name is Jonathan David Rinaldi and I’m running for Congress against AOC, the Green New Deal is a scam.” Continuing, he shouted about pro-illegal immigrant policies, saying, “They’re giving the NYCHA apartments away, they’re giving illegal aliens $10,000 a day… I want you to debate me AOC, debate me.”
Rinaldi was ejected by security and AOC smiled as the security team tried to drag him out of the room after he interrupted the event. NYCHA, for reference, is the New York City Housing Authority. It is an agency that oversees NYC’s public housing projects, and is suspected by many on the right of aiding illegal immigrants over citizens.
In any case, as Rinaldi was being ejected, another heckler rose from his seat and started shouting, yelling about the situation at the border and the state of things regarding illegal immigrants coming into America. He said, “Secure the border now!” Continuing, he shouted, “You haven’t said one word about violent Venezuelan migrants, illegals!”
He wasn’t done. Yelling about much the same issue, he shouted that AOC is focused on illegal immigrants rather than her constituents, Americans in NYC. He yelled, “You don’t care, all you care about is illegal aliens and their votes. You don’t care about your constituents.” He continued, “That’s all you care about, you’re a disgrace!”
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Rinaldi wasn’t done either. As security kept trying to push him out, he yelled, “Every single one of us is being sold out by people that have brought illegals here to vote!” He added, “You only represent the illegal aliens!” That set AOC off. Snapping at him, She said, “Well clearly I don’t, because I’m an elected member of Congress, so keep it pushing bro!”
Watch the heckling here:
AOC, after the hecklers were gone, defended her stance on illegal immigration, saying, “Clearly, this community — Astoria, Jackson Heights, also across the Bronx – clearly supports progressive immigration policies that welcomes all of our neighbors.” She added, “We clearly support a path to citizenship, we clearly support ending draconian immigration policies and that is why you all… support my representation of our community in Congress because we have had enough.”
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video