Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called for the abolition of the 'carceral system' in the US during a campaign event in Ohio over the weekend.
The Democratic Squad member was campaigning for congressional candidate Nina Turner on Saturday when she said: 'I want to abolish our carceral system that's designed to trap black and brown men.'
'I want justice. I want peace, and I want prosperity. That's what I want,' Ocasio-Cortez added during her speech in Cleveland for the co-chair of Bernie Sander's 2020 presidential campaign.
The country's carceral system refers to its approach to criminal justice and punishment of criminals. Ocasio-Cortez has long fought for drastic changes to the system that she says unfairly targets black and brown people.
A statement on her official government website reads that she 'is committed to dismantling our system of mass incarceration and ending the school-to-prison pipeline.'
According to the website, her criminal justice reform goals include federally legalizing marijuana, ending for-profit prisons, releasing all individuals incarcerated for nonviolent drug offenses, ending cash bail, and launching independent investigations for every case in which someone is killed by law enforcement.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called for the abolition of the 'carceral system' in the US during a campaign event in Ohio over the weekend
Ocasio-Cortez has long fought for drastic changes to the system that she says unfairly targets black and brown people
The country's carceral system refers to its approach to criminal justice and punishment of criminals
Ocasio-Cortez shares similar views as Turner, who is running to represent Ohio's 11th congressional district. The seat was vacated in March by Marcia Fudge, who became President Biden's Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
Turner's campaign is supporting policies like AOC's Green New Deal, Medicare for all, the cancellation of student debt and a $15 per hour minimum wage.
There are 15 candidates - 13 Democrats and two Republicans - vying for the seat. The 11th district often sways left, so the winner of the Democratic primary may likely determine the winner of the general election.
The Democratic and Republican primaries will be held on August 3, though early voting started two weeks ago.
'This isn't about Nina vs any opponent; this is about the people versus big money,' she said at the event according to WJW.
The congresswoman continued, 'This is a deep blue seat. It's a deep blue seat. Districts like Ohio's 11th should be leading the country on issues. They are opportunities, they are very rare opportunities, very rare districts like this one that can take and be visionary.'
A statement on Ocasio-Cortez's official government website reads that she 'is committed to dismantling our system of mass incarceration and ending the school-to-prison pipeline'
The Democratic Squad member was campaigning for progressive congressional candidate Nina Turner on Saturday. Above, she discussed critical race theory in schools with Don Lemon on CNN on July 19
She added, 'If there is anywhere where you can afford to have somebody be bold. If there is any district where you can afford to have somebody who is going to bespeak not only a certain truth to power but stand up and help create a vision that provides provision. If there is any district where it can be done in the great state of Ohio, it's Ohio 11th district.'
Turner's canvas launch included four different events in Cleveland and Cleveland Heights to help rally volunteers for the last week and a half until the primary.
'Canvasses are where the fight gets won. Right here is where the work happens and I love being where the work happens. Where we actually get our hands dirty in the work of knocking on our doors and having conversations with our neighbors and building actual community. There's no replacement for that,' said Ocasio-Cortez.
One of Turner's opponent's, Cuyahoga County Councilwoman Shontel Brown, a moderate, told WJW in response to Ocasio-Cortez's rally, 'The contrast in this race could not be clearer. Shontel Brown is the only candidate who from day one can work with the Biden administration and our house majority to deliver good-paying jobs, affordable healthcare, and affordable prescription drugs to northeast Ohio.'
Brown, who has been endorsed by Hillary Clinton and House Majority leader Jim Clyburn, also canvassed on Saturday in the west side of Cleveland and held a community cookout in Cleveland Heights Sunday afternoon.
She told WJW, 'I couldn't be more excited that we have an administration that's talking about things through a lens of equity, equality and inclusion so when you're talking about trillions of dollars in infrastructure, that is going to create many job opportunities so we need someone who can be at the table who can make sure we get those resources back into the 11th Congressional District.'
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