Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez drew criticism from conservative commentators following her call for northern progressives to travel south during a voting rights rally in Montgomery, Alabama on May 16.
Speaking at the “All Roads Lead to The South” event, Ocasio-Cortez urged supporters from states north of the Mason-Dixon line to visit Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Mississippi. She described these efforts as necessary to address political injustices stemming from voting rights disputes and congressional redistricting battles.
The remarks follow heightened national tensions over congressional maps following recent court rulings that have challenged the use of race in drawing legislative boundaries. Federal courts recently blocked Alabama’s Republican-backed congressional map after determining it intentionally discriminated against Black voters, a case among the nation’s most prominent redistricting disputes.
Ocasio-Cortez later reinforced her message online, stating: “If you’re not from these states, it’s time to pull up.”
The comments quickly drew sharp criticism from conservative figures and social media users. Conservative podcaster Todd Spears questioned the practical outcomes of Ocasio-Cortez’s appeal and condemned what he called divisive rhetoric. TikTok user Kei Bennett also went viral with a warning against “pulling up” to Alabama.
