A town hall hosted by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., was abruptly interrupted Friday night when a protester began shouting about the war in Gaza, accusing the congresswoman of ignoring what she called a “genocide.”
The disruption came just moments after Ocasio-Cortez began her presentation at the event, which was held to discuss local issues, including healthcare and federal budget cuts under the Trump administration. Before she could finish her first slide, the protester, who identified herself as a healthcare worker, began yelling from the audience.
“I am a healthcare worker and I want to know what you’re doing about the genocide in Gaza!” the woman shouted.
Audience members quickly responded with chants of “Shame! Shame!” and loud boos as the woman continued shouting over the congresswoman. Despite attempts by Ocasio-Cortez to de-escalate the situation and address her concerns, the protester refused to calm down.
Staff allowed the woman to express her grievances for a short time before escorting her out of the event. As she exited, she continued shouting, calling Ocasio-Cortez a “war criminal” and saying, “Shame on you, I used to support you!”
After the outburst, Ocasio-Cortez addressed the crowd.
“I more than welcome people who disagree, or are super pissed off at me for any issue to come, but we have some ground rules here,” she said. “Please wait for the Q&A. We want everyone to have a chance to participate and receive the information they came for.”
The incident comes as Ocasio-Cortez faces increasing scrutiny over her stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict, with critics on the left accusing her of not doing enough to condemn Israeli military actions. The congresswoman had previously described protests at Columbia University over Gaza as “peaceful,” despite rising tensions on campuses nationwide.
Meanwhile, speculation continues to swirl about Ocasio-Cortez’s political future. With her national profile rising, she reportedly raised a staggering $9.6 million in the last fundraising quarter — one of the largest hauls ever for a House member. Her campaign reported 266,000 individual donors, with an average contribution of just $21, fueling ongoing rumors of a potential 2028 presidential bid.