With 435 members of Congress, you’d be forgiven for not knowing all of their names. Apparently CJ Pearson, the teen Internet star/activist who’s gone back and forth between supporting conservatives and progressives, did not know who Rep. Nydia Velázquez was, and referred to her in a tweet during the State of the Union as “the woman sitting next to [AOC].” This prompted an incredibly strange and threatening response from the New York Democrat.

“@AOC has been talking this entire speech and the woman next to her keeps trying to look the other way,” the teenager, who lives in Georgia, tweeted.

.@AOC has been talking this entire speech and the woman next to her keeps trying to look the other way ????. — CJ Pearson (@thecjpearson) February 6, 2019

“Hi @TheCJPearson, I'm not "the woman sitting next to her". @AOC and I -- and millions like us -- are the future of this country. And you're right to be afraid of us,” she replied. “But you should learn my name.”

Hi @TheCJPearson, I'm not "the woman sitting next to her". @AOC and I -- and millions like us -- are the future of this country. And you're right to be afraid of us.



But you should learn my name. https://t.co/frL8ikNDcV — Nydia M Velázquez (@ReElectNydia) February 6, 2019

Twitter did not take kindly to the lawmaker's response.

You do know that @thecjpearson is a minor right? You sound like you are threatening a minor... — Obianuju Ekeocha (@obianuju) February 6, 2019

United States Citizens should NEVER fear politicians. This tweet is deeply disturbing. — Julie Betts (@JulieLvsPACKERS) February 6, 2019

Wow. You had an opportunity to introduce yourself in a diplomatic way. Instead you chose to let citizens know we should be afraid of you. Not to mention on a night when POTUS was calling for unity.. literally right in front of you. Who are the divisive ones again?? ?? — Allie Mass (@AllieMassengale) February 6, 2019

Perhaps you would like to clarify what, exactly, the young man should fear from his elected representatives? — Michelle Ray (@GaltsGirl) February 6, 2019

You may be the future of New York, but you’re not the future of this country. — McKinley ???? (@mwmcenroe) February 6, 2019

This tweet is disturbing... An elected official who demands that they be feared is an elected official who should never have been elected in the first place. — Lady Porch ?? (@TheMrsPorch) February 6, 2019

You’re the rep for the district where an MS 13 member just shot and killed someone on a subway? — Omar Navarro for Congress Campaign (@PressGop) February 6, 2019

lol, did you just say that we should be afraid of our elected representatives?? If you believe that, you have no business holding office. — Adam Trahan (@AdamTrahan) February 6, 2019

Threatening the constituency? Who are you, Joseph Stalin? Oops. You probably don't know who that is. — Amy R (@LittleHawaii) February 6, 2019

Pearson responded that he genuinely didn't know who she was and told her that perhaps if she worked harder more Americans would know her name.