In Chicago on Monday, New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez highlighted Vice President Kamala Harris’ middle class roots during her speech to delegates at the Democratic National Convention. Drawing a comparison between her own background as a waitress and Harris’ beginnings, AOC emphasized how hope and aspiration were crucial factors in getting them both into positions of power.
Six years ago I was taking online orders as a waitress in New York,” Ocasio-Cortez said. I didn’t have health insurance, my family was fighting off foreclosure.” She went on to express her frustration with politics that seemed blind to the needs of working people. It wasn’t until the miracles of democracy and community that the residents of the Bronx and Queens chose her for Congress.
AOC believes that the same hope and aspiration will help Harris and fellow Democratic candidate Tim Walz secure their place in the White House. She noted how Kamala Harris is “for the middle class” because she herself comes from a middle-class background. The left-wing representative received a warm welcome from DNC attendees, with many chanting her name as she took the stage.
AOC’s speech highlighted Harris’ commitment to securing a ceasefire in Gaza and bringing hostages home amidst the Israeli war with Hamas. This issue has been one of the most contentious topics at the DNC. Outside the convention center, anti-Israeli protesters caused traffic disruptions leading to delays for guests and press getting inside the venue.
In her speech, Ocasio-Cortez expressed gratitude towards Kamala Harris, Tim Walz, and Joe Biden for their vision and leadership. However, Republicans have attempted to argue that AOC’s liberal policies are more in line with Harris’, implying a more progressive agenda than what President Biden has displayed.
Fierce criticism of former President Donald Trump was also present in Ocasio-Cortez’s speech as she claimed he cannot “love this country” because he fights for Wall Street and “big business.
