AOC Nominated Bernie Sanders in 90 Second DNC Speech

Before Alexandria Ocasio Cortez took the stage to deliver her speech at the DNC there as controversy as to why she only got a minute to speak, especially when conservatives like John Kasich and Colin Powell were allotted up to 5 minutes to talk. But last night she used her short time to make her mark and her words caused a Twitter storm! During her speech, AOC nominated Bernie Sanders for  Democratic nominee and since Joe Biden is the official nominee, some took it as a snub against the senator from Delaware.

“In a time when millions of people in the United States are looking for deep systemic solutions to our crises of mass evictions, unemployment and lack of healthcare,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “En ​espíritu del pueblo​ and out of a love for all people, I hereby second the nomination of Senator Bernard Sanders of Vermont for president of the United States of America.”

Thank you @AOC for speaking substance into the DNC. You are the future of the party. pic.twitter.com/XZSZ2GSvTl

— Thomas Kennedy (@tomaskenn) August 19, 2020

AOC’s nomination was mostly procedural since convention rules call for nominations for each candidate that passes the delegate threshold. Despite the fact that Sanders rescinded his candidacy, he still had enough delegates during the primary to qualify. Sanders endorsed Biden last spring, and the process of the formal nomination includes transferring his delegates to Biden.

Sanders ended the roll call with 1,151 delegates to Biden’s nomination-clinching 3,558. Biden will formally accept the nomination for the Democratic ticket on Thursday night.

After AOC nominated Bernie Sanders, the progressive congresswoman clarified her intentions in a tweet saying, “If you were confused, no worries! Convention rules require roll call & nominations for every candidate that passes the delegate threshold.” She also tweeted congratulations to Biden writing “Let’s go win in November.”

If you were confused, no worries!

Convention rules require roll call & nominations for every candidate that passes the delegate threshold.

I was asked to 2nd the nom for Sen. Sanders for roll call.

I extend my deepest congratulations to @JoeBiden – let’s go win in November. 🇺🇸 https://t.co/uI92P3UfLn

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) August 19, 2020

The speech also garnered attention from Latinx twitter for her use of the term “colonization” which many commended it as likely being the first time it was used in a DNC speech. It’s that much more significant considering the power of the Latinx vote in this election and the small number of Latinx voices that were included in the DNC this year. And it was only magnified by the Congresswoman’s own Puerto Rican background.

“This is a movement striving to recognize and repair the wounds of racial injustice, colonization, misogyny, and homophobia, and to propose and build reimagined systems of immigration and foreign policy that turn away from the violence and xenophobia of our past,” she said at the start of her speech.

AOC mentions "colonization" in her remarks. I don't think I have heard that word from a DNC convention primetime set of remarks ever. #DemocraticNationalConvention

— Julio Ricardo Varela (@julito77) August 19, 2020

@AOC specifically mentioning colonization in her speech was incredibly powerful. As someone actively engaged in movement to decolonize #PuertoRico, felt seen that's for sure. Gracias Congresista. #DNC2020 #DemocraticConvention

— Melissa Mark-Viverito (@MMViverito) August 19, 2020

So though many supporters saw her allotted time of 60 seconds a snub , it’s evident she made the most use of every second. AOC- who was recently endorsed by Cardi B for 2024 should she run – also made it a point to show her support for the Latinx community with a simple tweet singling out a phrase from her speech: “En el espíritu del pueblo.”