AOC to Boycott Prime Minister Modi’s Address

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) issued a statement, confirming her intention to boycott Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s joint address to Congress.

AOC begins her statement by encouraging others to join her in opposing Prime Minister Modi. “I will be boycotting Prime Minister Modi’s address to Congress tomorrow, and I encourage my colleagues who stand for pluralism, tolerance, and freedom of the press to join me in doing the same,” AOC says.

The New York native speaks about Narendra Modi’s previous violations, which date back to 2005, and she provides statistics to back up her claims.

“In 2005, Narendra Modi was denied a U.S. visa because of his violations of religious freedom, including his complicity in an anti-Muslim riot that left over 1,000 dead. India currently ranks 161 out of 180 in the World Press Freedom Index – in part due to Modi’s raids on BBC India’s offices and his court challenges against a critical documentary. Additionally, a report from the U.S. Holocaust Museum found that India is at high risk for mass killings – the 8th most at risk of 162 countries studied.”

-AOC

AOC concludes her statement by emphasizing her reasons for boycotting Prime Minister Modi’s speech to Congress.

“A joint address is among the most prestigious invitations and honors the United States Congress can extend. We should not do so for individuals with deeply troubling human rights records – particularly for individuals whom our own State Department has concluded are engaged in systematic human rights abuses of religious minorities and caste-oppressed communities,” AOC says.

What are your thoughts on AOC’s decision to boycott Prime Minister Modi’s speech?