Last week, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) shared a flyer on social media calling on fellow comrades “protect” an event in the Jackson Heights neighborhood of Queens, New York.
The post called allies of the community to come to “protect” a drag queen event targeted at children. The action was in response to the fact that a number of these drag events have been protested by BIPOC New Yorkers concerned about what they say is propaganda, according to journalist Andy Ngo.
Congresswoman AOC has shared a far-left flyer on Instagram for comrades to come to a direct action to “protect” a children’s drag queen event in Queens. A number of these drag events have been protested by BIPOC New Yorkers concerned about what they say is sexual propaganda. pic.twitter.com/2O5oMVb6Fm
— Andy Ngô 🏳️🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) December 27, 2022
The post shared by Ocasio-Cortez read, “the rolling library is a queer-led, queens-based, library-obsessed mutual aid group so yes we will standing [sic] with our comrades to defend Drag Story Hour this Thursday in Jackson Heights!!!!”
The post went on to warn supporters that a group of “violent loud bigots” were openly planning to disrupt the next Drag Story Hour.
“Queer community members and allies will be there to show the fascists they are not welcome, but that kids and drag queens are,” the post said.
Drag Story Hour events have been protested by a group named the Guardians of Divinity, who describe themselves as ‘God’s Army’ and have held similar protests in the city. The group claims that such events expose children to inappropriate situations and material that they are too young to understand.
The NYPD formed a line between the two sets of protestors. At least one person was arrested by the NYPD.
According to Andy Ngo, protestors who opposed the event were physically assaulted by far-left agitators in support of the event. A group of Black women protesting the event was maced by one of the supporters who presumably heard AOC’s call to “defend” the show.
A disabled woman protesting the event was also sprayed with a chemical agent by AOC’s summoned “defenders.”
A masked person in a blue coat and orange hat was recorded pepper spraying a black deaf woman who protested the children’s drag event at the Jackson Heights library in Queens, NYC. pic.twitter.com/dxkR2LpHjA
— Andy Ngô 🏳️🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) December 30, 2022
According to its website, Drag Queen Story Hour (DQSH) offers “literary and creative programming for kids and teens of all ages led by drag queens, kings, and creatures all over the world.”
