Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign office in the Bronx suffered vandalism last night, with a message reading “AOC funds genocide in Gaza” scrawled on a sign in front of the building, along with red paint splattered across its facade. The incident follows a series of threats to Ocasio-Cortez’s life and has raised concerns about the safety of her campaign staff and volunteers. Campaign manager Oliver Hidalgo-Wohlleben confirmed the vandalism and emphasized the importance of security measures, stating that the campaign is in discussions with law enforcement authorities. The New York Police Department has launched an investigation into the vandalism, though no arrests have been made yet.
Ocasio-Cortez has consistently criticized Israel’s military actions in Gaza, calling them “genocide,” and her recent vote against an amendment to the defense spending bill that would have cut funding for Israel’s missile defense systems has drawn sharp criticism from both progressive and conservative groups. On Friday, she voted against the amendment, a decision that drew strong opposition from the Democratic Socialists of America, who condemned her stance as support for Israel’s “eliminationist campaign against the Palestinian people.” However, Ocasio-Cortez defended her vote in a social media post, arguing that the amendment would have perpetuated the war by cutting funding for Israel’s defense systems without forcing a resolution to the broader military campaign launched in response to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. “I have long stated that I do not believe that adding to the death count of innocent victims to this war is constructive to its end,” she wrote on X. “I remain focused on cutting the flow of US munitions that are being used to perpetuate the genocide in Gaza.”
Her position has become a focal point of debate in Congress, with progressives accusing her of being too accommodating to Israel, while conservatives have long viewed her as a target of their criticism. The vandalism of her campaign office appears to be an escalation of the political tensions around her stance, as well as a reflection of the broader public and political discourse surrounding the Israel-Gaza conflict. The Democratic Socialists of America, in a statement, reiterated their disappointment in her support for military aid, noting that her acknowledgment of the genocide in Gaza does not align with her opposition to funding Israel’s defense systems. “The fact that Representative Ocasio-Cortez acknowledges that Israel is carrying out this genocide makes her support for military aid all the more disappointing and incongruous,” the statement read.
As the investigation into the vandalism continues, the campaign has prioritized the safety of its staff and volunteers, with plans to closely monitor the situation and coordinate with federal and local law enforcement agencies. The incident underscores the personal risks faced by high-profile political figures in the current climate, particularly those who have taken positions on the Israel-Gaza conflict. The situation has also prompted a broader reflection on the role and responsibilities of lawmakers in the US, especially regarding foreign policy and military support for international allies. The Democratic Socialists of America’s criticism illustrates the growing divide within the progressive movement over how to approach the Israel-Gaza conflict, with some advocating for a more confrontational stance against Israel and others seeking a more nuanced approach that includes pressuring Israel to halt its military operations while also supporting international humanitarian efforts.