Ocasio-Cortez Event Features Hosts Leading Anti-Israel Chant
Democratic Socialists of America organizers at Cornell University led a crowd in the slogan "from the river to the sea" prior to Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's appearance.
During a "Students vs. Billionaires" town hall event hosted by the Cornell University Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) on Sunday, the group's leaders led an estimated 2,000 attendees in chanting the anti-Israel slogan "from the river to the sea." YDSA president Mina Petrova and co-chair Zoe Reisman also declared "long live the student intifada" before Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., took the stage.
"Cornell is fundamentally a capitalist institution that prioritizes billionaires and profit over students and community and is controlled by CEO trustees that are profiting off of genocide and war," Petrova stated to the crowd, which responded with applause. Reisman added, "Here we stand as anti-imperialists and believe that nobody is disposable. We have a responsibility to stand in solidarity with oppressed people's everywhere." The YDSA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Ocasio-Cortez, upon speaking, addressed what she described as censorship, stating, "Whether it’s the issue about Palestine or many others, whether it’s about people trying to fire those who are forming a union in their workplace, whether it’s people trying to speak up about a number of different issues, we have to respond to that first crackdown." She continued, "When we come out in numbers, they cannot take us all."
Her campaign has stated its aim is to boost voter turnout in Democratic strongholds. However, recent polling suggests a national skepticism towards the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and the broader socialist movement in the United States. A recent Fox News Poll indicated that 55% of registered voters hold an unfavorable view of the DSA, with only 30% viewing the organization positively. This sentiment aligns with a broader trend where the DSA and socialist platforms face significant national skepticism.
In October 2025, a survey found that 30% of college students believe violence is an acceptable method for stopping speakers on campuses. The phrase "from the river to the sea," often used in protests concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, has been described as antisemitic by Jewish organizations. The image of a protest sign displaying this slogan near Tulane University was documented in May 2026.