U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez visited Madison last week during the Harris-Walz campaign’s “Fighting for Reproductive Freedom” bus tour. Speaking at the Orpheum Theater to a crowd of over 500 supporters, Ocasio-Cortez addressed the audience alongside Gov. Tony Evers and others, promoting reproductive freedom.
Showcasing the energetic charisma she’s been known for, Ocasio-Cortez revved up the crowd to never stop fighting. Ocasio-Cortez spoke to a captive audience about the need for reproductive freedom, sharing a moving personal story from her waitressing days when she was a victim of sexual assault.
Ocasio-Cortez spoke to a captive audience about the need for reproductive freedom, sharing a moving personal story from her waitressing days when she was a victim of sexual assault. Because of this experience, she faced the possibility of an unwanted pregnancy. Ocasio-Cortez said that while she had no control over the assault, she knew she had the autonomy to control the outcome.
“While I didn’t know what I would choose in that moment, I knew that I could choose,” Ocasio-Cortez said. I knew that the choice itself would be mine and mine alone, not a court’s, not a lobbyist’s, not a politician’s, but mine.”
Ocasio-Cortez added that while the circumstances leading up to possibly being pregnant were out of her control, she was comforted by the agency she held over how to proceed moving forward.
“In that moment, in those three minutes, one clear beaming thought went through as I held that stick, ‘Thank God I have a choice,’” she said.
By discussing reproduction freedom, the Harriis-Walz campaign hopes Ocasio-Cortez will help mobilize the student vote.
In Addition to Gov. Tony Evers, activist Kate Cox,joined Ocasio-Cortez. Coxwho was denied emergency abortion care by the Texas Supreme Court last year, forcing her to travel outside her state to gain access to abortion care.