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She said future town halls would be open in a second tweet.
Additionally, with this town hall non-story: it was designed to protect + invite vulnerable populations to PUBLIC discourse: immigrants, victims of domestic abuse, and so on.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) August 17, 2018
We indicated previously that the event would be closed to press. Future ones are open.
In a story first reported by the Queens Chronicle, her campaign manager, Vigie Ramos Rios, said the ban stemmed from the press attempting to question Ocasio-Cortez after a community meeting in the Bronx, despite the campaign saying ahead of time that there would be no question or interview opportunities after the event. Rios said that the candidate was “mobbed” by reporters, leading to the campaign to restrict the press from covering an event last Wednesday and Sunday.
“We wanted to help create a space where community members felt comfortable and open to express themselves without the distraction of cameras and press,” campaign spokesman Corbin Trent said in a statement to the Chronicle. “These were the first set of events where the press has been excluded. This is an outlier and will not be the norm. We’re still adjusting our logistics to fit Alexandria’s national profile.”
Ocasio-Cortez is the Democratic nominee for New York’s 14th Congressional District, which includes parts of the Bronx and Queens. She upset longtime congressman and party leader Rep. Joe Crowley in June’s primary election, propelling her to national fame.
The campaign did not immediately respond to an ABC News request for comment.
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