This does not surprise me at all. There are few women who make it past their 30th birthday without being assault victims. We need to keep talking about it until it stops. No more shame for victims. No more protection for abusers. No more excuses.

>"“I haven’t told many people that in my life,” the Democratic congresswoman said. “But when we go through trauma, trauma compounds on each other.”"

Trigger warning: sexual assault . . . “I’m a survivor of sexual assault,” Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat, said during an Instagram Live appearance, her voice wavering with emotion. “And I haven’t told many people that in my life. But when we go through trauma, trauma compounds on each other.” Speaking to an audience that numbered more than 150,000 for much of the video’s duration, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez walked viewers through the days leading up to the riot as well as the day of it, offering an extraordinarily candid and vivid description of one of the most turbulent moments in recent American history.”

Thing is, many of us are. But we don't talk about it until we work through the trauma and are strong enough to say it out loud, to ourselves and / or others. And then we are so often asked: Why did you wait so long to say anything? You probably made it up. Breaks my heart.

>"“I haven’t told many people that in my life,” the Democratic congresswoman said of the revelation, which came during a harrowing recounting of her experiences amid the Capitol riot."

>"“I haven’t told many people that in my life,” the Democratic congresswoman said of the revelation, which came during a harrowing recounting of her experiences amid the Capitol riot."

Why did the Times choose to go with Sexual Abuse as the headline on the front page vs her harrowing experience facing possible death during the Trump insurrection? Better click bait? Yuck! Most likely a misogynist male editor decision? Must have known the effect this would have?

Are we telling the most important part of this story? Ocasio is calling out that we hold GOP members accountable - who incited violence, aimed at _women_ in power, and this article, and headline are both disappointing and misleading.

"Ocasio-Cortez Is a Sexual Assault Survivor" ...there, I fixed your headline for you. Much respect to Alexandria for being incredibly courageous & speaking out. I can't imagine what its like in her life right now. I hope whoever attacked her gets punished and booted out.