Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., addressed supporters at the "All Roads Lead to The South" rally in Montgomery, Alabama, on May 16, calling on northern progressives to "pull up to the South" to address what she described as political injustice in states including Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee and Mississippi.
The congresswoman spoke from behind bulletproof glass during the event. She stated that the United States was not a true democracy until the 1960s with the passage of the Voting Rights Act and accused the Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Roberts of contributing to "a long history of regression and repression in America."
Following the rally, Ocasio-Cortez posted on social media that "If you're not from these states, it's time to pull up." The remarks drew immediate criticism from conservative voices who highlighted the security measures in place at the event.
Conservative podcaster Todd Spears posted a reaction video on TikTok that received 1 million views. In the video, Spears questioned the call to action, asking, "[Pull up] and do what? Help us get the boat off the trailer, like cut the grass, track a deer in the woods?" He added that visitors should "bring a tank" if they intended to start trouble in the region.
Spears further criticized the speech in the video caption, writing that "AOC talking about the North 'rolling up' on the South and Alabama, like this is still the 1860s, is wild." He suggested politicians focus less on division and more on existing problems.
Another TikTok creator, Kei Bennett, whose video gained more than 800,000 views, issued a warning to potential followers of Ocasio-Cortez's advice. Bennett cited local wildlife and community responses, stating that residents "will not hesitate to unite and get you the f--- up out of here."
Bennett, who has over half a million followers, added that "down here in the South we don't call cops, we call coroners," and urged outsiders to "Stay your a-- up there, leave us alone. We ain't bothering nobody."
The rally occurred amid ongoing national debates over voting rights and regional political differences. Ocasio-Cortez has previously commented on services in New York City while the state faces a reported $5 billion deficit and increased transit crime, according to the reporting.
Additional coverage noted that Ocasio-Cortez spent over $53,000 in campaign funds on luxury hotels in 2025, a detail raised by critics labeling her a "carpetbagger" in southern contexts.
Ocasio-Cortez's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the backlash or the security arrangements at the Montgomery event.
Reactions on social media platforms showed a divide, with some users supporting the call for greater engagement in southern states and others viewing the comments as inflammatory or out of touch with local realities.
The event was part of a broader effort described as bringing attention to voting access and political participation in the region, though specific outcomes from the rally remain to be seen in coming weeks.
Observers noted that similar calls for cross-regional political involvement have appeared in past election cycles, often generating comparable online discussion without leading to large-scale movements.