AOC Stands By ‘Defund The Police’ Mantra As Democrats Turn Their Backs On It

After Democrats saw their House majority shrink on Election Day last week, various members of the party have been turning their backs on the radically liberal mantra of “defund the police.” Despite this, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has just spoken down to stand by the mantra that may be costing her party dearly.

During a virtual town hall, Ocasio-Cortez admitted that some critics were “apoplectic” over defund the police, according to the New York Post. However, she defended the mantra by saying that too much money is pumped into the NYPD at the expense of other preventative safety measures like school guidance counselors and mental health workers.

“Our [police budget] is too high,” she explained, citing the fact that the NYPD budget is $6 billion. She added that the unchecked spending on the NYPD “becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy” and lowers spending on other things like housing and healthcare.

“It’s about a budget shift,” Ocasio-Cortez explained.

The self-described Democratic Socialist claimed that her constituents often complain that “too many people” are killed by “police violence.”

“It’s my job to listen. We need to invest in those other types of safety,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “We need to stop being so reactionary.”

Despite the fact that she is widely criticized by even the moderates in her own party, she said she has no problem being a thorn in the side of the Democratic establishment.

“I feel very centered and at peace. This is what you brought me to Congress to do,” Ocasio-Cortez said, adding that she not only attacks Republicans, but also holds “all institutions accountable and that includes the Democratic Party.”

She went on to say that she plans to hold Joe Biden accountable, should he become president. Specifically, Ocasio-Cortez said she will make sure that he follows through on the Green New Deal plan, as she served on Biden’s Climate Change Task Force that crafted the final product.

In the end, Ocasio-Cortez said that she is “encouraged” by how things are moving towards the progressive world that she wants to see.

“There’s a shift going on,” she said.