Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Opens Up About Being A Sexual Assault Survivor As She Describes Trauma Of Capitol Insurrection

Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez spoke for more than an hour on a live stream on Monday night, describing her experience during the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6. As she opened up about the trauma she endured, she revealed that she is a survivor of sexual assault. “When we go through trauma, trauma compounds on each other,” she said.

“I’m a survivor of sexual assault,” said AOC. “I haven’t told many people that in my life. But when we go through trauma, trauma compounds on each other.”

“The reason I’m getting emotional in this moment is because these folks who tell us to move on, these are the same tactics of abusers,” AOC said about some GOP lawmakers who have suggested it’s time to “move on” from the January 6 attack.

AOC just came out as a survivor of sexual assault and pushed through her tears to seamlessly draw comparison to the systematic abuse of the Right Wing. *That* is a warrior. Thank you, @AOC. 💔 pic.twitter.com/AcFSATXrGU

— fran (@fransquishco) February 2, 2021

AOC follows up her IG Live with a couple of tweets.

My story isn’t the only story, nor is it the central story of what happened on Jan 6th.

It is just one story of many of those whose lives were endangered at the Capitol by the lies, threats, and violence fanned by the cowardice of people who chose personal gain above democracy.

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 2, 2021

Thanks for making the space for me, and hope we can all make space for others to tell their stories in the weeks to come.

And to those who wish to paper over their misdeeds by rushing us to all “move on” – we can move on when the individuals responsible are held to account.

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 2, 2021