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    1. Life

    AOC just took a stand and restored our faith in politics

    Jenny Proudfoot's avatar
    By Jenny Proudfoot
    Published 2 July 2019 In Features

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    You would have to be living under a rock not to have heard of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, especially in recent months. The US Democratic politician was made Representative for New York’s 14th congressional district in January this year but the millennial is nothing like her predecessors.

    The activist known best by her initials, AOC, wears Zara, serves up razor-sharp comebacks and until recently worked in a bar while launching her campaign. Oh and did we mention that she’s 29 years old?

    Yes, AOC is one huge breath of fresh air, and with a political system in desperate need of a shake up – she couldn’t have come at a better time.

    This was proven once more this week as the politician took a stand and gave us faith in politics.

    Getty Images

    Last month, a secret Border Patrol Facebook group was exposed by ProPublica, with the private group named ‘I’m 10-15’ racking up 9,500 members.

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    In the group, members seem to share gifs around the migrants’ conditions, joke about the death of migrants and talk about AOC, with reported photoshopped images in the group showing AOC having oral sex with the President.

    How did AOC respond? By visiting the border immediately and seeing the migrants’ conditions for herself.

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    Yes, the 29-year-old gathered a group of Democrats and went to investigate for herself, tweeting her findings as she went.

    ‘Just left the 1st CBP facility,’ she tweeted from the border. ‘I see why CBP officers were being so physically & sexually threatening towards me. Officers were keeping women in cells w/ no water & had told them to drink out of the toilets. This was them on their GOOD behavior in front of members of Congress.’

    She later returned to Twitter, posting: ‘Now I’ve seen the inside of these facilities. It’s not just the kids. It’s everyone. People drinking out of toilets, officers laughing in front of members Congress.’

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    She continued: ‘I brought it up to their superiors. They said “officers are under stress & act out sometimes.” No accountability.’

    Some CBP officers claimed they felt threatened by AOC - an argument she flattened immediately.

    'They were literally discussing making a GoFundMe page for an officer who attacked me on my tour. They confiscated my phone, and they were all armed. I'm 5'4" - they're just upset I exposed their inhumane behaviour.'

    Like we needed a reason to be even more in awe of AOC.

    Jenny Proudfoot
    Jenny Proudfoot
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    Contributing Features Editor

    Jenny Proudfoot is an award-winning journalist, specialising in lifestyle, culture, entertainment, international development and politics. After working at Marie Claire UK for seven years - rising from intern to Features Editor - she is now a freelance contributor to the News and Features section.

    In 2021, Jenny was named as a winner on the PPA's '30 under 30' list, and was also listed as a rising star in journalism.

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