Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was ignored by attendees at a recent Eid al-Adha event in New York City, with fellow event-goers loudly talking over her in a video that has gone viral on social media.
Event Details
Ocasio-Cortez attended a celebration for the Muslim holiday with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani in the Bronx on Wednesday, during which she wore a scarf as a hijab. Mamdani, the city's first Muslim mayor, wore an Arsenal kurta, while AOC had a head covering while she spoke.
Viral Video
A clip of her speech has since circulated online, showing her speaking about 'solidarity,' urging the crowd to be devoted to their neighbors and community to 'bring light into the darkness.' Ocasio-Cortez's speech was muffled by background noise and attendees speaking amongst themselves. Some claimed that the clip was ironic considering the theme of her speech, with one writing on X, 'While AOC was preaching "solidarity" in her hijab, the male-only crowd ignored her and spoke over her.' Another said, 'Funny how every viral clip of AOC’s Eid speech was filmed tight on her face with cleaned-up audio. Then this wide-shot video surfaced and the crowd was talking over her so loudly you could barely hear her at all. It felt more like a staged social media publicity clip than an actual speech.'
Defense and Criticism
However, others praised Ocasio-Cortez for respecting Muslim tradition and pointed out that the event was held outdoors. One argued, 'Tell me you’ve never been to a massive outdoor community event without telling me. She was invited by the community to speak, and wearing a headscarf is just basic respect for a religious holiday—the same way politicians wear a kippah at a synagogue.' Another X user questioned whether it was disrespectful for Ocasio-Cortez to wear a headscarf when she is not Muslim, to which the representative replied, 'Hey there! It’s the first. This is at a mosque, where we were invited by the congregation to speak before prayer. In this context, head coverings are the respectful move. One of the fun parts of being a rep for NYC is learning different customs for so many communities. Cheers!'
Iranian Journalist's Reaction
The video also generated attention from Iranian journalist Masih Alinejad, who slammed Ocasio-Cortez on X, writing, 'That's not a custom. That's not a fun learning experience. That's a woman's life. Women live under Sharia laws are not your cultural tourism. We are dying for the freedom you performed as hospitality. Anyway, I'll be in New York court in August facing Islamic regime’s hitman #5. Solidarity, right? Or it’s nut fun!'
About Eid al-Adha
Eid al-Adha, translated as the Feast of Sacrifice, is a holiday celebrated for three to four days, during which Muslims attend special prayer ceremonies at mosques and Islamic centers. The holiday honors Prophet Ibrahim.
Mamdani added in a statement on X, 'Eid al-Adha reminds us that sacrifice is not a burden. It is an opportunity to see ourselves as part of something larger. To extend a hand to those who need it most.'
The Daily Mail has reached out to Ocasio-Cortez's office for comment.
