WASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has addressed past progressive slogans surrounding police reform and prison abolition, dismissing earlier hardline rhetoric with a lighthearted comment that “Woke 1 was crazy.”
During a recent discussion addressing progressive policies, the Democratic Congresswoman defended democratic socialist figures while reflecting on the evolution of political messaging over recent years.
When asked about past controversial calls to “defund the police” and drastically alter law enforcement funding that gained nationwide traction in 2020, Ocasio-Cortez acknowledged the extreme nature of some early progressive movements. By humorously labeling the initial wave as “Woke 1,” she signaled a shift in tone regarding how progressive politicians approach criminal justice and public safety discussions moving forward.
The comments mark a noticeable pivot from the intense debates of recent years, as political figures re-evaluate strategies on public safety, law enforcement budgets, and social reforms.
Read more: Israel Rejects Trump’s Gaza Peace Proposal, Demands Full Hamas Disarmament
