PS - I don't twitter.
Posted on 09/30/2019 10:12:10 AM PDT by Red Badger
Freshman Democrat Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is in hot water after blocking users on Twitter.
A federal judge set a precedent in May outlawing politicians from blocking users on Twitter, contending President Donald Trump would violate the U.S. Constitution by preventing certain Americans from viewing his tweets on the “designated public forum.”
The same ruling applies to the socialist “Squad” leader.
Former Brooklyn Assemblyman Dov Hikind, a Democrat who describes himself as a “proud Jewish American and a staunch supporter of Israel,” filed a lawsuit against Ocasio-Cortez after she blocked him. Ocasio-Cortez tried to get the case dismissed, arguing Hikind “lacks standing to bring the action,” noting she only blocks individuals whose commentary is not “constructive.”
Ocasio-Cortez has claimed she blocks people on Twitter for “harassment, not for political views.” However, Hikind maintains the Democrat darling blocked him in June after he condemned her comments comparing migrant detention centers on the U.S. southern border to concentration camps.
I sued Trump and won. Thanks to the hard work of my co-plaintiffs, Katie Fallow and our legal team, and the Knight First Amendment Institute, the President of the United States just unblocked me on Twitter. Not even Trump can infringe upon our First Amendment rights. pic.twitter.com/8Gf7vM59l8 — Eugene Gu, MD (@eugenegu) June 5, 2018
“That comment from her, I found so incredibly outrageous,” the former Democrat assemblyman said. “I was shut out basically from having a conversation.”
Ocasio-Cortez ’s aide insisted the New York congresswoman made a “judgement call” to block Hikind, but said she was not aware of why Ocasio-Cortez made the decision.
Judge Frederic Block rejected the aid’s argument and mandated Ocasio-Cortez appear in court on Sept. 27 and provide an explanation detailing why she blocked Hikind along with 19 other Twitter users.
“I think she has to testify,” Judge Block said. “Her point is that this was an A-OK thing to do…she has to explain.”
In a press release issued in August, Hikind argued Ocasio-Cortez is a wimp.
“After acknowledging that she blocked me to disable my commenting without citing an offensive comment, it’s clear to me that Ms. Ocasio-Cortez is a coward,” he said. “With millions of followers, why is she still so afraid of what I have to say?”
Speaking to reporters, Hikind doubled down, mocking Ocasio-Cortez for being weak-kneed to criticism.
“AOC may have not liked what I said but I think it was so incredibly cowardly for AOC to have blocked me,” he said.
Ocasio-Cortez defended her right to block Twitter users in August, after Columbia University’s Knight First Amendment Institute warned her the action is unconstitutional.
“Many of your tweets staking out positions on issues such as immigration, the environment, and impeachment have made headline news,” the institute said in a letter to the congresswoman. “The @AOC account is important to you as a legislator, to your constituents, and to others who seek to understand and influence your legislative decisions and priorities.”
Ocasio-Cortez shot back, assuring she has only blocked less than 20 accounts for “ongoing harassment.”
“Harassment is not a viewpoint,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote. “Some accounts, like the Daily Caller, posted fake nude photos of me & abused my comments to spread it. No one is entitled to abuse.
“People are free to speak whatever classist, racist, false, misogynistic, bigoted comments they’d like,” the congresswoman continued in another tweet. “They do not have the right to force others to endure their harassment and abuse.”
People are free to speak whatever classist, racist, false, misogynistic, bigoted comments they’d like.
They do not have the right to force others to endure their harassment and abuse. ✌🏽 — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) August 29, 2019
I hope she wins.
Eventually President Trump would be able to do the same.
Very Soviet of her. Opposing viewpoints are “not constructive” and must be squelched.
[[not constructive]]
Sooo- president Trump can block people for their comments not being constructive too AOC?
I hope she loses. Twitter should be required to remove the “block” function.
Wait’ isn’t she special and above the law ?
“People are free to speak whatever classist, racist, false, misogynistic, bigoted comments they’d like. “
Now that’s some real Marxist keywords right there.
William F. Buckley — ‘Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views.’..................
PS - I don't twitter.
A judge named Block is going to hear a hearing about blocking.
You would think he would be in favor of it!..............
She doesn't have the right to be judge and jury over what's appropriate or constructive now that's she's a member of the Government.
What's she's doing is the textbook definition of censorship and that very comment right there is going to lose the case for her.
While I agree that there's a whole lotta non-constructive noise out there, if you open a portal (twitter) to speech, then as a Government official, you can't devise filters of your own making.
Maybe her winning strategy is to wear a low cut blouse, braless, and a short skirt with no panties...
Either everybody can block or nobody can block.
She does that everyday..................
Then maybe this time she will shave first :)
The judge does know that she is a Democrat and thus rules don’t apply to her?
Democrats: No, no. We didn’t mean us! Stupid judge...
Judge Frederic Block... mandated Ocasio-Cortez appear in court on Sept. 27 and provide an explanation detailing why she blocked Hikind along with 19 other Twitter users.
Have you heard what the outcome was?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.