US rep. AOC’s Bronx office vandalized after vote backing ‘Israel’ aid

The Bronx district office of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was vandalized overnight in what appears to be a politically motivated act.

A fringe group calling itself the “Boogie Down Liberation Front” claimed responsibility and left behind a note condemning Ocasio-Cortez’s recent vote to uphold US military aid to “Israel.”

In their statement, the group accused Ocasio-Cortez and fellow New York lawmaker Ritchie Torres of using the Bronx for political gain. “The Bronx stands with the people of Palestine,” the note read, denouncing AOC for supporting what it described as “Israel’s ongoing genocide and starvation campaign in Gaza.”

“This wasn’t a protest, it was a targeted act of political intimidation,” a source close to the congresswoman’s office said. “It speaks to the growing tensions surrounding US policy on ‘Israel’ and Palestine.”

The incident follows a contentious vote in the House of Representatives on Friday, where Ocasio-Cortez voted against an amendment introduced by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA). The amendment, H.Amdt.55 to H.R.4016, sought to eliminate USD 500 million in military aid earmarked for “Israeli Cooperative Programs,” including systems like the Iron Dome.

Rep. Greene framed the proposal as a necessary budgetary measure, citing the US’s USD 37 trillion national debt and arguing that nuclear-armed “Israel” is capable of self-defense. Despite this, the amendment was overwhelmingly defeated in a 6–422 vote. Only six lawmakers voted in favor, including Reps. Greene, Thomas Massie (R-KY), Al Green (D-TX), Summer Lee (D-PA), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI).

Ocasio-Cortez’s “no” vote aligned her with the vast majority of lawmakers who supported maintaining current levels of military funding for “Israel.” This follows a controversial moment in April 2024 when she voted “present” on a USD 1 billion supplemental Iron Dome funding bill. That vote drew national attention, especially after Ocasio-Cortez was seen visibly emotional on the House floor.

In a letter released afterward, she defended her vote, criticizing the rushed nature of the process and expressing frustration over what she described as a lack of care for affected human lives. “Yes, I wept,” she wrote. “I wept at the complete lack of care for the human beings impacted by these decisions.”

The US has long provided robust military support to “Israel,” amounting to more than USD 130 billion since 1948. This includes an annual USD 3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing and USD 500 million for joint missile defense projects, as outlined in a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding.

Pro-“Israel” groups such as AIPAC praised the vote to reject the amendment. “Congress has sent a clear bipartisan message about America’s support for our democratic ally,” the group said in a statement.

As of Monday afternoon, Ocasio-Cortez’s office had not released an official response to the vandalism. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.