Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is facing criticism from southern conservatives after a rally speech in Montgomery, Alabama, where she urged progressives from outside the region to “pull up” to the South.
Ocasio-Cortez spoke at the “All Roads Lead to The South” rally on May 16, where she criticized political conditions in several southern states and argued that voting rights and democracy remain under threat.
During the speech, the New York Democrat said the United States was not a true democracy until the Voting Rights Act was passed in the 1960s. She also criticized the Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Roberts, accusing the court of contributing to what she described as a long history of regression and repression.
Ocasio-Cortez then called on progressives from northern states to organize and show up in places like Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee and Mississippi.
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After the event, she repeated the message on social media, writing that if people are not from those states, it is time to “pull up.”
The comments quickly drew backlash from conservatives online. Critics argued that the remark sounded divisive and mocked the fact that Ocasio-Cortez appeared to be speaking behind bulletproof glass during the rally.
Conservative podcaster Todd Spears went viral with a TikTok reaction video that reached about 1 million views. In the video, Spears mocked the phrase “pull up” and questioned what Ocasio-Cortez expected people from the North to do in southern communities.
Spears also criticized the historical framing of her remarks, saying the rhetoric made it sound as though the North and South were still politically divided in the same way as the 1860s.
Another TikTok creator, Kei Bennett, also posted a viral response warning Ocasio-Cortez’s supporters not to take the message literally. Bennett’s video drew hundreds of thousands of views and used humor to tell outsiders not to come to Alabama looking for conflict.
The reaction reflects a broader cultural divide between progressive national figures and conservative voters in southern states. Ocasio-Cortez’s supporters view her message as a call for organizing and voting rights activism, while critics say it sounded confrontational and dismissive of southern communities.
The controversy adds to the attention surrounding Ocasio-Cortez as she continues to campaign and speak nationally on issues including voting rights, democracy and progressive political organizing.
“It has come to my attention that AOC has made yet another bone headed statement by telling people in New York they need to pull up on the south, particularly pull up on Alabama. Oh, sweet baby, you sweet face loon. That is not a good idea, and I’m gonna tell you why.”
So spot… pic.twitter.com/40PBRDFsYQ
— TONY™ (@TONYxTWO) May 21, 2026
