American politician serving as the US Representative for New York’s 14th congressional district, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Thursday, accused US Representative from Florida, Ted Yoho, a Republican Party member of having accosted her on the steps of the US Capitol on Monday.
The New York City Democrat while rejecting Yoho’s apology for having used a sexist slur in her speech said that Yoho, who was accompanied by another Republican, Roger Williams used the words—dangerous, disgusting and crazy for her, while she was heading in to vote.
Ocasio-Cortez has said that the Florida Republican put his finger in her face and flew into a ‘rage’ after having called her a “f*cking b*tch”, on Monday.
While in her Thursday speech she said, “this issue is not about one incident, it is cultural. It is a culture of lack of impunity of accepting violence and violent language against women, an entire structure of power that supports it.”
She further added, “I am here because I have to show my parents that I am their daughter, and that they did not raise me to accept abuse from men.”
“Yoho had called her “disgusting and out of [her] freaking mind”. She had shot back, calling him “rude”.
After the two went their separate ways, Yoho offered a final comment to the air: “F*cking B*tch”, reported The Hill on July 23.
House Majority Leader, Steny Hoyer had called on Yoho to apologize on the House floor saying,
“Mr. Yoho owes not only the Congresswoman an apology, but also an apology on the floor of the House of Representatives”.
On Wednesday, Republican Ted Yoho had taken to the House floor saying, “I rise to apologize for the abrupt manner of the conversation I had with my colleague from New York. It is true that we disagree on policies and visions for America, but that does not mean we should be disrespectful. Having been married for 45 years with two daughters, I’m very cognisant of my language. The offensive name-calling words attributed to me by the press were never spoken to my colleagues and if that way, I apologize for their misunderstanding.”
BBC News on July 23 quoted Democratic Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi – the top Democrat in the chamber having called the alleged slur, “a manifestation of attitude in our society really.”
It further quoted the California Congresswoman, Barbara Lee for having said on the House floor, “I personally have experienced a lifetime of insults, racism and sexism and believe me, this did not stop after being elected to public office.”
Democratic representative for California, Judy Chu said, “it’s not expected that everyone in this chamber agrees with each other. It is expected however, that we treat each other with dignity and respect.”
Democratic representative for Minnesota’s 5th district, Ilhan Omar defending fellow representative, Ocasio- Cortez in the House on Thursday said, “we will send a message to our daughters and their daughters, that they deserve fundamental equality.”
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