FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 26, 2018
Contact: Emily Phelps | press@indivisible.org
Washington, DC—Tonight, Indivisible Project national political director Maria Urbina released the following statement after the historic win of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
“In NY14, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez just flipped the script. Together, the resistance and local grassroots community organizing replaced a high-ranking member of the Democratic establishment with one of their own – a 28-year old progressive Latina activist. It’s impossible to overstate how important candidates like her are: women of color who have always been leading us to justice. They see us – they are us. They know that doing the work means going against the cautious-as-usual strategy and meaningfully reaching out to voters who are often forgotten.
“A Bronx native, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez knew her district intimately – and she was ready to do the work it takes to reach out to underrepresented voters who are too often ignored by the system and in Congress. While Rep. Crowley ignored the growing grassroots power in his own turf – he even skipped two primary debates – Alexandria led the way in taking bold policy positions: from her call to abolish ICE, to her commitment to refuse corporate donations, to her work in support of criminal justice reform.
“Indivisible groups in the 14th have been inspired by Alexandria since she declared. The New York City Indivisible Action Council endorsed Alexandria at the local level, calling her ‘a leader who will stand on groundbreaking policy that will move us in the directions we need for change.’ Group members in the district collected signatures to get Alexandria on the ballot, and volunteered with the campaign for months. They showed up for her because Alexandria had shown up for them — attending an Indivisible town hall early in December 2017 ready to discuss everything from health care to the IDC, showing up for immigrant kids in Tornillo, and fighting for every single vote.”
Indivisible Project co-executive director Ezra Levin released the following statement:
“In 2014, Tea Party activists defeated a high ranking member of Republican leadership in the House and replaced him with one of their own. That moment was earth shattering. It sent a message across the political spectrum: don’t mess with us.
“The resistance just sent its own message. We’re building the big blue wave, and you can help, or you can get out of the way. Democrats and Republicans alike: if you ignore us or take us for granted, we’ll replace you.
“This morning the day looked incredibly dark. The Republican Supreme Court upheld Trump’s racist Muslim ban while Trump’s gestapo forces keep families in cages at the border and terrorize communities of color throughout the country. The day is still dark – a lot of damage has been done and is being done – but Ocasio-Cortez’ victory is a real ray of light. A new political era is dawning – and the rusting and reluctant political establishment will wake up or be woken.”
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About the Indivisible Project
The Indivisible Project is a registered 501(c)(4) nonprofit. Our mission is to cultivate and lift up a grassroots movement of local groups to defeat the Trump agenda, elect progressive leaders, and realize bold progressive policies. Across the nation, thousands of local groups are using the Indivisible Guide to hold their members of Congress accountable. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.