Things got loud in Ithaca this Sunday as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez hit the stage for her "Students vs. Billionaires" town hall. The event was packed with a standing-room-only crowd of about 2,000 people, aiming to rally voters as the midterms approach.
Before the congresswoman took the mic, the vibes were already intense. Cornell University Young Democratic Socialists of America co-chairs Mina Petrova and Zoe Reisman led the crowd in chants, including "from the river to the sea" and "long live the student intifada." Petrova told the crowd, "Cornell is fundamentally a capitalist institution that prioritizes billionaires and profit over students and community."
When Ocasio-Cortez stepped up, she focused on campus free speech, calling out what she described as a "crackdown" on student protesters and labor organizers. She encouraged the students, saying, "When we come out in numbers, they cannot take us all."
Real talk: the chant used at the event is majorly controversial. While the House of Representatives has officially labeled the phrase antisemitic, Ocasio-Cortez voted against that resolution back in 2024.
It was a busy day for the congresswoman, though one planned guest was a no-show. Gov. Kathy Hochul was originally slated to appear with her, but she backed out, with her office citing the nor’easter hitting the city as the reason for the change of plans.
Why it matters
As Ocasio-Cortez looks toward future political moves—including potential runs for the Senate or even the presidency—her visits to upstate Democratic strongholds are being watched closely to see if she can boost midterm turnout.
