AOC Faces Death Threats After Vote on Israel Aid, Campaign Office Defaced in the Bronx

Red paint, a politically charged sign, and multiple death threats. That’s the reality Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her staff say they’ve been navigating in the past few days, as backlash over a recent defense spending vote intensifies.

According to her campaign manager, Oliver Hidalgo-Wohlleben, the congresswoman’s Bronx campaign office was vandalized late Sunday with red paint and an anti-Israel message accusing her of funding genocide in Gaza. The incident is under investigation by the New York Police Department. Meanwhile, her team says the office has received multiple threats on her life and is working closely with security officials.

Here’s what we know about the vandalism of AOC’s campaign office

The vandalism occurred around 12:45 a.m. on Monday, according to the NYPD. Officers responded to a 911 call about “criminal mischief” and found the front of the building defaced with red paint. As The Hill reported, photos from the scene showed paint splashed across the windows and a sign that read, “AOC funds genocide in Gaza.”

Politico noted that the message criticized Ocasio-Cortez for her stance on Israel’s war in Gaza. A group calling itself the Boogie Down Liberation Front claimed responsibility, sharing a photo on social media of individuals in the act of defacing the building.

The Guardian reported that the Capitol Police did not immediately respond to requests for comment. No arrests have been made.

AOC’s campaign says the office is a “hub in the community”

In a statement on X, Hidalgo-Wohlleben addressed the situation directly.

“Our office is a hub in the community and we want it to be a safe space for all of our neighbors,” he wrote. “In the past few days, we also have received multiple threats on the Congresswoman’s life and we are treating this seriously with our security partners to make sure she, our staff, and volunteers are safe.”

He added that the team had begun cleaning the office and was cooperating with the authorities. According to USA Today, it remains unclear who specifically made the threats.

Why AOC is under pressure from both sides over her recent vote

Ocasio-Cortez has long criticized Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, calling it a “genocide.” However, last week, she voted against an amendment to the defense spending bill that would have cut funding for Israel’s missile defense systems.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, introduced the amendment. It aimed to strip $500 million from Israel’s Iron Dome program. AOC opposed the amendment, along with 422 other lawmakers. Only six House members voted for it, including fellow progressives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib.

After the vote, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), of which Ocasio-Cortez is a member, issued a public statement condemning her decision. The group called her opposition to the amendment “disappointing and incongruous,” especially given her past statements labeling Israel’s actions a genocide.

“The fact that Representative Ocasio-Cortez acknowledges that Israel is carrying out this genocide makes her support for military aid all the more disappointing and incongruous,” the DSA wrote, according to Politico and Middle East Eye.

AOC defends her vote and pushes back against misinformation

After facing backlash online, Ocasio-Cortez defended her position across social platforms. She stated that while she opposed the amendment, she also voted against the overall defense bill, which includes over $600 million in military aid to Israel.

In her own words, posted to X: “I have long stated that I do not believe that adding to the death count of innocent victims to this war is constructive to its end. I remain focused on cutting the flow of US munitions that are being used to perpetuate the genocide in Gaza.”

She also called out misinformation surrounding her vote. “Google is free,” she wrote. “If you’re saying I voted for military funding, you are lying. Drag me for my positions all you want, but lying about them doesn’t make you part of the ‘left.’”

On Bluesky, she added, “The threat environment this morning is scary. Drag me for the position if you disagree, but don’t lie. It’s out of control. Saying I voted for this funding is false.”

Safety threats and political fallout

As of Tuesday, AOC had not issued a direct public statement about the threats or the vandalism. However, her campaign manager confirmed to USA Today and The Hill that the threats are being taken seriously and that they are working with security partners to protect staff and volunteers.

The NYPD’s investigation into the vandalism is ongoing. No suspects have been identified or arrested.

This isn’t the first time Ocasio-Cortez has been the target of harassment or criticism over her stance on U.S. aid to Israel. In 2021, she changed her vote from “no” to “present” on a separate Iron Dome funding bill and later said she had received hateful targeting that influenced her decision.

Now, as war in Gaza continues and U.S. defense spending faces renewed scrutiny, Ocasio-Cortez is once again in the eye of the storm. This time, with her safety and her stance on military aid both under fire.