Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez To Headline Benefit Rally In Montgomery

SILVER SPRING, MD — Hundreds of supporters are expected to attend a rally co-hosted by Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) at the Silver Spring Civic Building Thursday night.

The rally — which starts at 7 p.m. — will benefit Raskin's Democracy Summer program, a Democratic fellowship for high school and college students who want to learn about American politics and electoral mobilization.

This year's event is open to the first 600 registrants and has already sold out. Freshman Rep. Ocasio-Cortez will be co-hosting the event.

"Ocasio-Cortez is a gifted political leader passionately engaged in the struggles of our time," Raskin said in a statement. "In her role as Vice-Chair of the Oversight Committee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (which I chair), I see her fighting every day to protect workers' rights, public employees' rights, women's rights, immigrants' rights at the border, and justice for all."

The 29-year-old progressive exploded in popularity after beating 10-term incumbent Rep. Joe Crowley in New York's 14th congressional district last summer. As a freshman congresswoman, the Latina has touted Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, and other hot-button policies. She has also traded barbs with multiple lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

Thursday's rally comes on the heels of a Twitter feud with President Donald Trump. Less than a week ago, Trump told four minority congresswomen — Reps. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), and Ocasio-Cortez to "go back" to where they came from. All four lawmakers are U.S. citizens. Omar is the only one born in a different country.