AOC reveals she is a survivor of sexual assault and details Capitol riots

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (known as AOC) has taken to Instagram Live to detail the ‘extremely traumatizing’ events of the January 6th insurrection and has revealed she's a survivor of sexual assault. 

AOC has been a powerful voice calling for justice and accountability for the attack on Capitol Hill.

She's said that Trump supporters and those calling for AOC to ‘move on’ and forget what happened at the Capitol are using tactics that abusers would use. “We cannot move on without accountability, we cannot heal without accountability”, she said.

AOC has said that she cannot move forward without: “Truth-telling or without actually confronting the extreme damage, physical harm, loss of life and trauma that was inflicted.”

In her raw statement, AOC also revealed she is a survivor of sexual assault. She said: “I haven’t told many people that in my life”. She reflected on how repeated trauma has the effect of compounding damage, saying that: “when we go through trauma, trauma compounds on each other.” 

She described the terrifying moments where she thought she was going to die and had to behind the door of her bathroom, as someone broke into her office shouting “Where is she?” over and over. 

The intruder was a Capitol police officer, but AOC says that he was hostile, and did not identify himself as police. She and a staff member were given only vague instructions about where to go for safety by the officer. AOC said there were several moments where she thought: “I am going to die.” 

She was lucky to find Katie Porter's office, where she was able to find clothes to blend in and sneakers so she could "run for her life" if she needed to. Later she was able to barricade herself into Katie’s office, along with Katie.

Fans of AOC took to Twitter to support and praise her courage and openness. One user wrote: “I stand with this beautiful, strong, amazing and powerful woman and every strong queen @AOC, and every strong woman that shares the same horrible experience. You are not a victim YOU ARE A SURVIVOR.” 

Another wrote: “AOC has more strength and courage in her pinky finger than every GOP member combined.” Others called her an inspiration, thanking her for telling her story.

AOC has said that her story isn’t the only one, but one of many from those whose: "lives were endangered at the Capitol by the lies, threats, and violence fanned by the cowardice of people who chose personal gain above democracy.”