Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) is pushing back against criticism that she appeared to use a different accent while speaking to a mostly African-American audience at an event organized by Al Sharpton.

"Folks talking about my voice can step right off," Ocasio-Cortez tweeted. "Women's March & Kavanaugh speech, same."

"Any kid who grew up in a distinct linguistic culture & had to learn to navigate class enviros at school/work knows what's up," she continued. "My Spanish is the same way."



She linked to a tweet that questioned whether she changed her speech delivery in order to cater to the African-American audience she spoke to.

"As much as the right wants to distort & deflect, I am from the Bronx. I act & talk like it, *especially* when I'm fired up and especially when I'm home," she added in a second tweet.

"It is so hurtful to see how every aspect of my life is weaponized against me," she complained, "yet somehow asserted as false at the same time."

"I'm proud to be a bartender! Ain't nothin' wrong with that!" she said during the speech at NAN, the National Action Network.



"There's nothin' wrong with workin' retail folding clothes for other people to buy," Ocasio-Cortez continued. "There is nothing wrong with preparing the food that your neighbors will eat!"

"There is nothing wrong with being a working person in the United States of the America!" She added. "And there's everything dignified about it!"



Here's the questionable comment from AOC: