Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) spoke at a rally in Queens on Sunday, where she supported New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. The event, titled “New York is Not for Sale,” took place at Forest Hills Stadium. Ocasio-Cortez addressed the crowd, acknowledging that many people across the country view her and her supporters as extreme. She insisted that they are not the ones who are crazy, saying, “We are not the outlandish ones, New York City. They want us to think we are crazy.”
During her speech, Ocasio-Cortez expressed her views on various issues, including housing and healthcare. She called for affordable housing, fair wages, and the right to healthcare. She also spoke about the need to support marginalized communities both domestically and internationally, mentioning the plight of Palestinians.
The rally drew attention when New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who has endorsed Mamdani, spoke to the crowd. They responded with chants of “Tax the rich!” Hochul embraced the energy, stating, “I hear you, I love to see this energy and this passion.” Mamdani, clearly energized by the crowd’s response, remarked, “Hell, yeah. Obviously,” and added that their work is just beginning as they approach the election on November 4.
Ocasio-Cortez’s political agenda has included proposals for a 70% tax rate on income exceeding $10 million, tuition-free public colleges, and the cancellation of federal student debt. She has also advocated for the Green New Deal and Medicare for All, which experts estimate could cost trillions over the next decade. Critics, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, have characterized her views as extreme, calling them dangerous and labeling her and her allies as “full Marxists.”
The rally showcased the growing support for leftist policies in New York City as the election approaches, highlighting the divide in political ideologies within the country.
