By h. hazan ışık—

24 June 2022—

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez  (AOC) joined protesters in the evening at Union Square, telling them how she supported sexually assaulted friends to get help.

Ocasio-Cortez: “I just came up from D.C. We must start right now to be relentless to restore and guarantee all our rights here in the United State.”

“I want to take a moment and honor this spirit of this space and telling stories,” she said, and continued: “Until about four years ago I was a waitress right here this corner. Now Chase Bank used to be a coffee shop , I worked there for years. Right next to that coffee shop there was a free health center. I supported friends who were sexually assaulted right after getting out of the work.”

Roe v Wade is not women’s right issue, it’s an issue for everyone

And Ocasio-Cortez shared her own stories: “I, myself, hen I was 22 or 23 years old was raped in New York City. I was completely alone, in fact I was so alone, I had to take a pregnancy test in a public bathroom in Midtown Manhattan. And I waited what the result would be. All I could think was: Thank God I have at least a choice. Thank God at least I could have the freedom to chose,” she said.

 Ocasio-Cortez added: “ I didn’t know then, as I was waiting, that it would come up negative. But it doesn’t matter. This is for all of us. This is not a women’s rights issue. This is an issue for all of us…….President Joe Biden can open abortion clinics on federal lands right now, right now”

Protesters applauded her loudly.

Governor Kathy Hochul also attended the rally in Union Square.

Shortly after Rep Ocasio-Cortez’s speech, Gov. Kathy Hochul too, addressed the crowd.

“We stand in solidarity with our sisters across our nation who have now had their rights denied. Here in the state of New York, as the first woman governor, this is deeply personal to all of us. We will stand up and we will fight back,” said Governor Hochul. 

And continued: “” We can be a safe harbor for women all across this country. You come to New York and we will take care of you.”

Ocasio-Cortez smiled at Governor Hochul.

Protesters stayed around the microphone to share their own stories about abortion. 

On her arm “Abortion health care” was written.

It was about 22:30, and some protesters were still at Union Square.

Photos copyrighted © h. nazan ışık

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