US congresswoman-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez came to her own defense after a baffling claim for the first time that she has Jewish ancestry.
The Democratic socialist who will be heading to Washington, D.C. next month to represent her New York district, made the surprising revelation at an event celebrating the eighth and final night of Hanukkah in Queens, according to The Jerusalem Post.
“Before everyone jumps on me – yes, culture isn’t DNA,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted Monday in response to the reactions over her claim.
Before everyone jumps one me – yes, culture isn’t DNA.
But to be Puerto Rican is to be the descendant of:
African Moors + slaves,
Taino Indians,
Spanish colonizers,
Jewish refugees,
and likely others.We are all of these things and something else all at once – we are Boricua. https://t.co/IFC4mwAjor
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) December 10, 2018
She spoke publicly about this part of her family history for the first time on Sunday at the event with progressive group, Jews for Racial and Economic Justice.
What a beautiful and touching evening we shared tonight for our community Chanukah celebration.
Thank you Rabbi Mia for the opportunity of helping you light the shamash, and thank you @JFREJNYC for assembling the festivities!
May tonight’s light and hope spark many others ✨ pic.twitter.com/vBE2s3KH5S
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) December 9, 2018
“So many of our destinies are tied beyond our understanding,” Ocasio-Cortez told those gathered. “One of the things a lot of people don’t know about Puerto Rico, and something we discovered ourselves, is that a long time ago, many generations ago, my family consisted of Sephardic Jews.”
A shocked reaction from an audience member caused laughter as the 29-year-old socialist joked, “He’s like ‘I told you!'”
“The story goes that during the Spanish Inquisition, so many people were forced to convert on the exterior to Catholicism, but on the interior, continued to practice their faith, continued to be who they were, even though they were pressured to not be that on the outside world,” she said, explaining her connection to 15th-century Sephardic Jews.
Plus I can never turn down an opportunity to try a new dance! ?? pic.twitter.com/qwTXLXGrDb
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) December 9, 2018
Her revelation sparked quick reaction on Twitter where Democrats and their ancestry claims already draw plenty of commentary, thanks to one Sen. Elizabeth “Pocahontas”Warren.
Elizabeth Warren II: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Now Claiming Jewish Ancestry https://t.co/UOchP0PtTs pic.twitter.com/JSPbBb01EU
— Chuck Woolery (@chuckwoolery) December 10, 2018
Alexandria ocasio-cortez who boosted two newly elected Israel hating Dems, ilhan omar and Tlaib, is now part Jewish like Elizabeth Warren is native…
Now about that photo that is a meme? pic.twitter.com/UsmkUB2Xbo
— Zepblackstar (@zepblackstar) December 10, 2018
Well look what we have here – another who wants to claim Sephardic heritage w/zero proof. Astounding. Ironic that this was an event organized by JFREJ. Funny how people “discover” their Jewish roots when they hook up with this antisemitic group.https://t.co/ccYTAug0jb
— Maayan ??????? (@Maayan_Techiya) December 10, 2018
This chick is really the swiss army knife of identity politics
— Don Brown get out of man coverage for 1 play plz (@FatherPanik) December 10, 2018
Back in July, Ocasio-Cortez awkwardly backtracked as she tried to clarify comments she made accusing Israel of a “massacre” of Palestinians. When pressed she claimed in an interview that she was not an expert on “geopolitics.”
On Monday, Ocasio-Cortez took to Twitter to fire back at critics and clarify her remarks about her Jewish ancestry claim.
Just because one concrete identity may not be how we think of ourselves today, nor how we were raised, it doesn’t mean we cannot or should not honor the ancestors + stories that got us here.
I was raised Catholic, & that identity is an amalgam too – especially in Latin America.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) December 10, 2018
If anything, the stories of our ancestry give us windows of opportunity to lean into others, to seek them out, and see ourselves, our histories, and our futures, tightly knit with other communities in a way we perhaps never before thought possible.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) December 10, 2018
Naturally, the left celebrated whatever the far-left freshman lawmaker had to say. Snowflakes who have protests and boycotts over cultural appropriation seemed strangely silent on the claim, but plenty of others on Twitter were ready and willing to call her out.
She should have saved this for the next election cycle.
— Johnny Satyre (@JSatyre) December 10, 2018
Someone should tell Ms. Ocasio-Cortez that watching “Fiddler on the roof” doesn’t make her Jewish.
— David Vainqueur (@True_Canuck1) December 10, 2018
This could be interesting considering how many antisemites the radical left has…
— Orioles1337 (@1337h4xpoker) December 10, 2018
OH, REALLY? Revelations to court Jewish Vote will not do it! #AlexandriaOcasioCortez claims family were Sephardic #Jews forced to flee to #PuertoRico during the Spanish Inquisition. WHY is she an #antiSemite and #Israel hater? Does not fly this time, @Ocasio2018 not in my tribe pic.twitter.com/QCTWgiPTDQ
— Ben (@benghand) December 10, 2018
After a four Pinocchios claim + a variety of other dubious statements, We should begin to seriously question the veracity of her pronouncements. This is a reach in order to stay relevant.
— David Brezler (@3lprof3) December 10, 2018
oh god, this is going to be Elizabeth Warren redux, isn’t it. PEOPLE, she’s talking about family lore, just let it go.
— Dan Salz (@dannybraff) December 10, 2018
What the hell is she talking about?
— PBPeak (@PBPeak) December 10, 2018
Apparently she didn’t learn from Elizabeth Warren.
— The Right Needs Mike (@MikeoftheRight) December 10, 2018
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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