Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez defended her support for “defund the police” Thursday night after an election season in which Republicans weaponized the mantra to paint Democratic opponents as anti-cop and soft on crime.
Democratic leaders complained that two issues closely associated with AOC – defunding the police and socialism – contributed to Democratic losses in House races last week, including Republican challenger Nicole Malliotakis ousting first-term Democratic Rep. Max Rose in the Staten Island, N.Y., congressional race.
AOC defended her position when a 14-year-old student asked her during a virtual town hall meeting to define the meaning of “defund the police.”
Ocasio-Cortez, the democratic socialist congresswoman who was easily reelected to a second term last week in the 14th District, taking in parts of the Bronx and Queens, admitted that some critics were “apoplectic” over defunding the police. Read more…