AOC Slams Democrats' Response To Violence In L.A. Protests: 'Everything Was Fine Until Trump Decided To Unleash Violent Raids'

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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) slammed Democrats' response to violence in the protests taking place in Los Angeles, claiming the party does not need to "answer for every teen who throws a rock."

In a post on social media platform Bluesky, AOC said focusing on condemning violence rather than the Trump administration's actions is "100% carrying water for the opposition."

"It is 100% carrying water for the opposition to participate in this collective delusion that Dems for some reason need to answer for every teen who throws a rock rather than hold the Trump admin accountable for intentionally creating chaos and breaking the law to stoke violence. They are in charge," AOC claimed.

The lawmaker went on to say that "everything was fine until Trump decided to unleash violent raids without grounds in elementary schools, shopping areas, and peaceful public spaces." "ICE then illegally blocked Members of Congress entry into the facilities they are disappearing people into, escalating the situation. Let's start there."

The admonishment comes as colleagues seek to walk a fine line between supporting protests against Trump's immigration enforcement tactics and condemning violence as Republicans put it at the center of the conversation.

On the other side of the Democratic spectrum stands Sen. John Fetterman, who on Monday also criticized the party, but for not condemning violence strongly enough. In a social media post of his own, he said the party loses the "moral high ground" by failing to condemn violence.

"I unapologetically stand for free speech, peaceful demonstrations, and immigration—but this is not that. This is anarchy and true chaos," Fetterman said in a publication on X. "My party loses the moral high ground when we refuse to condemn setting cars on fire, destroying buildings, and assaulting law enforcement," he added.

The publication received several supportive responses from Republican officials or sympathizers, including Elon Musk and Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Deputy White House chief of staff and Cabinet secretary Taylor Budowich said the situation unfolding in the city is a "wake up call for many Democrats," telling Fetterman "there is no room for you in the party of Gavin Newsom and Kamala Harris."

Other Democratic officials have sought to convey nuance to their takes on the events unfolding. Sen. Chris Murphy said the party can "do two things at a time." "e can condemn protests that get out of control, and we can acknowledge that Donald Trump has no interest in standing up to violent protesters," Murphy said, noting that the president also pardoned "every single violent protester that tried to attack our Capitol and destroy our democracy."

In the meantime, Los Angeles' Democratic Mayor Karen Bass implemented a curfew in downtown Los Angeles after five nights of protests, resulting in dozens of arrests. Trump has ordered the deployment of thousands of National Guard troops and 700 Marines to the area, a move that local officials have called unnecessary. California Governor Gavin Newsom said they are designed to fan "the flames even harder."