Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has revealed on Instagram Live that she is a sexual assault survivor.
The US Democratic politician made the revelation while sharing her experience during the insurrection at the Capitol.
The 31-year-old congressman said she was shocked when she heard Republicans urging others to ‘move on’ from the riot that took the lives of five people.
Speaking openly on Instagram, AOC said: “The reason I’m getting emotional at this moment is because these folks who tell us to move on, that it’s not a big deal, that we should forget what’s happened, or even telling us to apologize, these are the same tactics of abusers.
“And I’m a survivor of sexual assault and I haven’t told many people that in my life. But when we go through trauma, trauma compounds on each other.”
She continued: “And so, whether you had a negligent or a neglectful parent, and – or whether you had someone who was verbally abusive to you, whether you are a survivor of abuse, whether you experience any sort of trauma in your life, small to large – these episodes can compound on one another.”
AOC also said that what happened at the US Capitol almost made her believe that she was “going to die.”
While rioters were looking for her during the insurrection, the politician stayed hidden behind a bathroom door.
“I had a pretty traumatising event happen to me, and I do not know if I can even disclose the full details of that event due to security concerns, but I can tell you that I had a very close encounter where I thought I was going to die,” AOC expressed.
“I hear huge violent bangs on my door and then every door going into my office.
“Like someone was trying to break the door down. And there were no voices. There were no yells. No one saying who they were, nobody identifying themselves.”
When a staffer told her that it was okay to come out as the man was an officer, the politician said that “something didn’t feel right” as the man was looking at her with hostility and anger.
“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,” she continued.
“This is not about a difference of political opinion, this is about basic humanity.”
AOC also called for Republicans to be held accountable.
“I’m not going to let it happen to me again. I’m not going to let it happen to the people victimized by the situation again, and I’m not going to let it happen to our country,” she added.
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