AOC Presses Expert On Antisemitism Being Co-Opted By 'Bad Actors' To Attack Progressives

6/12/2024

During a conversation on antisemitism and democracy, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spoke about accusations of antisemitism being used to sow division among progressives.

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Transcript

00:00Stacey, I wanted to ask you about how accusations of anti-Semitism and this important point

00:06about, again, how accusations of anti-Semitism and sometimes false accusations of anti-Semitism

00:13are weaponized, particularly against people of color and women of color who are also critical

00:19partners in a coalition for democracy.

00:23Thank you.

00:24So anti-Semitism is embarrassing in this country in public, I mean, less so in the last few

00:29years, and it wasn't always like that.

00:33But unfortunately, people use the power of that charge to hurt political opponents.

00:39There's no question many people want to protect Jewish safety, but there are others who still

00:45can't resist the opportunity to attack their opponents.

00:49And there are bad actors using this issue as a weapon in this moment against progressives.

00:55It's an issue that fits very neatly into a culture war narrative.

01:00And in that culture war, there's a big group of people determined to brand progressives

01:04and diversity itself as a threat.

01:06It's a dog bites man story.

01:07Oh, the tolerant liberals are actually illiberal bigots.

01:12And on top of it, this is perfect fuel for the misogyny against women in public life

01:18that is already at such a fever pitch, especially women of color.

01:24And I've been an advocate on these issues for a lot of decades.

01:27And it's just true that in different moments, these charges of anti-Semitism stick like

01:33glue to some groups and less to others.

01:37And there's a lot to unpack about that.

01:39But we've got to keep in mind that the division is a goal of the bad actors.

01:44When we get together, we have always had the power to make change.

01:48And people who are threatened by that change thrive on dividing us.

01:53And so one of the things we're doing in this conversation today is also to disrupt that

01:59because we have to understand each other and work together.

02:02When we are in relationships and conversations, there's more understanding of Jewish pain,

02:07more understanding of the pain and bigotry that targets so many groups.

02:13And I know a lot of people who are concerned about appearing or being anti-Semitic.

02:18Sure, there are people who don't care.

02:20There are people who are indifferent.

02:22But there are so many people in our movement who do want to know how to express themselves

02:28without fueling harm or anti-Semitism or harm against anyone.

02:34And that's what we're doing here.

02:35It's very serious work.

02:36And I'm just glad to be in it with you two women.

02:41Thank you, Stacey, as am I.

02:44And I think that's an important opportunity for us to move to what I think is a really

02:50important part of this conversation, which is anti-Semitism in the context of October

02:557th and the war in Gaza.

02:58And first and foremost, I think to everyone who is paying attention to this conversation,

03:04it's important to say and be clear that the three of us do not hold the same positions

03:10when it comes to the war and the role that we believe the United States must play.

03:15And that is important to point out, because what we do want to do here is be clear that

03:21it is possible for us to hold very different perspectives about these issues that often

03:28cut to the core of our beliefs without turning our backs on each other and on making sure

03:35that we remain a community where no one is targeted or excluded on the basis of their identity.

AOC Presses Expert On Antisemitism Being Co-Opted By 'Bad Actors' To Attack Progressives

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