During a town hall event in Jackson Heights, Queens, on May 2, 2025, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) was interrupted by a protester who accused her of not doing enough to prevent a “genocide in Gaza.” The protester, identifying herself as a healthcare worker, shouted, “You’re a liar! You’re a war criminal!” The disruption occurred just as Ocasio-Cortez began her presentation on the Trump administration’s proposed budget cuts, including those affecting local healthcare systems.<\/p>\n
Audience members responded to the outburst with boos and chants of “Shame! Shame! Shame!” Despite attempts by Ocasio-Cortez to address the protester, the individual continued to shout until she was escorted out by event staff.<\/p>\n
After the incident, Ocasio-Cortez emphasized the importance of respectful discourse, stating, “I more than welcome people who disagree… but we have some ground rules here.” She encouraged attendees to voice their concerns during the designated Q&A session to ensure a constructive dialogue, as reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n This event followed Ocasio-Cortez’s participation in the “Fighting Oligarchy” tour with Senator Bernie Sanders, which aimed to address issues like healthcare and economic inequality. The tour has garnered significant attention, with Ocasio-Cortez raising $9.6 million from grassroots donors in the past three months.<\/p>\n Watch the video of AOC’s townhall being disrupted:<\/strong><\/p>\n