As a new poll from CNN puts AOC at the top of respondents’ choices about who best represents the core values of the Democrat Party, a viral video from 2020 is surging in newfound popularity for the sheer gall and misrepresentation of what transpired at the height of the rioting and looting inspired by the death of George Floyd. AOC explicitly justified the looting in particular, expressing concern for people just trying to feed their families.
“And and so they go out and they need to feed their child and they don’t have money, so you maybe have to, you’re they’re put in a position where they feel like they either need to shoplift some bread or go hungry that night,” the Democrat Congresswoman from New York said sincerely.
One large account, End Wokeness, shared a clip which received millions of views on the single post. Almost instantly, she got blasted by users on now-X, then-Twitter. Comments called her out for obviously misrepresenting the nature of the looting. People were not being regularly captured on camera stealing from the produce aisle or bakery section of a grocery store. Instead, countless clips showed protestors breaking into high-end stores and taking items not fit for eating whatsoever.
“This is your brain on marxism. They have a script and their brainwashed minds are not allowed any other explanations for bad behavior. People who work for a living and try to profit from the value they create are “greedy,” while looters are “victims.” Give me a break @AOC,” wrote prominent conservative Kyle Becker.
“But smash and grabs aren’t happening at the grocery stores. They are happening in stores selling jewelry, electronics, sneakers, & dress clothing. They aren’t poor or underprivileged people trying to stay alive. They’re punks stealing,” pointed out another user.
“I’m not sure looting high end stores is equivalent to stealing some bread from your local bakers window… This is a societal breakdown caused by disrespect for authority and hard work – pedaled by poor leadsership [sic] like that from AOC,” wrote another.
Take a look at the wild moment where AOC justified the actions of looters, rather than remind them that the 8th Commandment prohibits stealing:
AOC on why people loot (2020):
“They are put in a position where they feel like they need to shoplift some bread or go hungry that night.” pic.twitter.com/Brv8OsjJ5X
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) August 14, 2023
The poll referenced earlier came from CNN in mid-March. Newsweek covered the results, writing that AOC somehow best represented the Democrat Party. “In the CNN poll released on Sunday, Ocasio-Cortez best embodies the party’s “core values.” The question was answered by Democrats or Democratic-leaning independents,” Newsweek wrote.
Admittedly, she didn’t run away with the content; indeed, she was the top recipient with by barely eeking out double digits, showing perhaps an even larger problem with the party seen to be on the wrong side of major issues mattering most to Americans. “Ocasio-Cortez scored 10 percent, followed by Harris with 9 percent and California Governor Gavin Newsom with 2 percent. Former President Joe Biden and ex-Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton both pulled in 1 percent of the vote. Former President Barack Obama had 4 percent. The poll was taken from March 6-9 among 1,206 people. The margin of error is 3.3 percent,” the outlet added.
Featured image: Screen shot from embedded video.