.@AOC from the House floor takes a moment of personal privilege to make remarks about the incident with @RepTedYoho.
He suddenly turned a corner, accompanied by Rep. Roger Williams, accosted her on the steps.
He suddenly turned a corner, accompanied by Rep. Roger Williams, accosted her on the steps.
She was minding her own business, she says, walking and Yoho put his finger in her face, called her disgusting, called her crazy, out of her mind and called her dangerous.
He took a few more steps and after she recognized his comments as rude, he walked away, I'm rude, you're calling me rude.
She took a few more steps ahead and walked inside and cast her vote.
She took a few more steps ahead and walked inside and cast her vote.
That was when, in front of reporters, @RepTedYoho called @AOC and she says this live on the floor, no filter, "a fucking bitch."
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She says his words were not deeply piercing to her. She has worked a working class job. She's walked the streets of New York, ridden subways. This language is not new. She has encountered these words while she was being harassed in restaurants. She's tossed men out of bars 4 this
This is not new and that is the problem. Mr Yoho was not alone, he was walking shoulder to shoulder with Rep. Roger Williams. This issue is not about one incident, it is cultural, it is a culture of lack of impunity. Accepting violence and violent language against women.
She has been spoken to disrespectfully by members of the GOP party, by the President, remember that?
When he told her and other lawmakers to "go home."
Ron DeSantis called her a "whatever that is."
Dehumanizing language is not new, she says.
When he told her and other lawmakers to "go home."
Ron DeSantis called her a "whatever that is."
Dehumanizing language is not new, she says.
AOC: Incidents like these are happening in a pattern, in an attitude towards women & dehumanization of others.
I was not hurt or offended by little comments that were made but when I was reflecting, I honestly thought I would pack it up and go home, it's just another day, right?
I was not hurt or offended by little comments that were made but when I was reflecting, I honestly thought I would pack it up and go home, it's just another day, right?
But when @RepTedYoho came to the floor yesterday and made excuses for his behavior, she could not let that go.
She could not let her nieces, women, victims of verbal abuse and worse to see that excuse and to see our Congress accept that as legitimate and as an apology.
She could not let her nieces, women, victims of verbal abuse and worse to see that excuse and to see our Congress accept that as legitimate and as an apology.
And the Congress accepted silence as a form of acceptance. I could not allow that to stand, and that is why I am rising today to raise this point of personal privilege.
She continues: I dont need Rep. Yoho to apologize to me. Clearly he does not want to. Clearly when given the opportunity he will not. I will not stay up late at night waiting for an apology for a man who has no remorse for using abusive language towards women.
But what I do have issue with is using women, our wives and daughters as shields and excuses for poor behavior, AOC says.
Mr. Yoho mentioned he has a wife and two daughters. She is 2 years younger than his youngest daughter.
I am someone's daughter too, she adds.
Mr. Yoho mentioned he has a wife and two daughters. She is 2 years younger than his youngest daughter.
I am someone's daughter too, she adds.
.@AOC: My father thankfully is not alive to see how Mr. Yoho treated his daughter. My mother got to see his disrespect on the floor of this House on TV. And I am here because I have to show my parents that I am their daughter & that they didn' raise me to accept abuse from men.
.@AOC: What Yoho did, in front of THE press, he gave permission to use that language against his wife and his daughters, women in his communities. I am here to stand up to say: "That is not acceptable. I do not care what your views are."
"It does not matter how much I disagree or how much it incenses me or how much I feel people are dehumanizing others, I will not do that myself. I will not allow people to change and create hatred in our hearts." - AOC
"Having a daughter does not make a man decent.
Having a wife does not make a decent man.
Treating people with dignity and respect makes a decent man.
And when a decent man messes up, as we all are bound to do, he tries his best and does apologize. - AOC on Yoho
Having a wife does not make a decent man.
Treating people with dignity and respect makes a decent man.
And when a decent man messes up, as we all are bound to do, he tries his best and does apologize. - AOC on Yoho
"Not to save face. Not to win a vote," she says. "He apologizes genuinely to repair and acknowledge the harm done."
Then, she says she wants to express gratitude to Yoho for something -
Then, she says she wants to express gratitude to Yoho for something -
"I want to thank him for showing the world that you can be a powerful man and accost women. You can have daughters and accost women without remorse. You can be married and accost women." - @aoc on @RepTedYoho's disgraceful remarks to her this week
"You can take photos and project an image to the world of being a family man and accost women without remorse and with a sense of impunity." - @AOC
Please forgive any typos in this thread.
AOC also thanks @RepAlGreen who is a "sterling example of such a decent man."
Can confirm: he is a lovely man, decent human being and remarkably compassionate.
Can confirm: he is a lovely man, decent human being and remarkably compassionate.
.@RepAlGreen has no children but says if he had a daughter, he would want his daughter to be just like @AOC: compassionate, honorable, strong.
This is not the first time we have heard this "b" word used by positions of authority, Green notes.
This is not the first time we have heard this "b" word used by positions of authority, Green notes.
Green says "the higher office" in this land has corrupted the discourse.
"We all took it for granted, we just assumed, oh it's just a person saying something," he says before referring to Trump's use of "SOB" publicly in the past.
"You're talking about a mother," Green says.
"We all took it for granted, we just assumed, oh it's just a person saying something," he says before referring to Trump's use of "SOB" publicly in the past.
"You're talking about a mother," Green says.
"This is unacceptable. We must change the tide of discourse in this country," @RepAlGreen adds. "What @AOC said today is something all of us should take notice of... I'm proud of her. I will stand with her not only today but in the future."
"I don't have to agree with everything she says to respect her dignity, her humanity," @RepAlGreen notes. "The use of the "b" word is something that demeans every woman when it is used.
His words brought tears to her eyes, AOC says when he finishes remarks.
His words brought tears to her eyes, AOC says when he finishes remarks.
"The relationship between fathers and daughters is a very special one and a very sacred one, " @AOC reflects.
She says if her father was using that sort of language toward another woman, "I would tell him he needed to apologize, his behavior was reprehensible and embarrassing."
She says if her father was using that sort of language toward another woman, "I would tell him he needed to apologize, his behavior was reprehensible and embarrassing."
As a woman in a field dominated by men, as a woman who has spent the majority of her life hearing men basely insult me for my appearance or my opinion - hearing an elected official make these remarks from the House floor is a moment I will never forget.
My colleague @JackRodgersCNS will have the story on this for @CourthouseNews today.
Please follow him.
Please follow him.
