Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) spoke at the “All Roads Lead to the South” rally on May 16, telling northern supporters it is time for places like New York to “pull up” to Southern states including Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Mississippi.

Ocasio-Cortez claimed the U.S. did not become a true democracy until the 1960s with the Voting Rights Act and criticized Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. She spoke behind bulletproof glass.

The remarks drew sharp criticism on social media, with some users calling the language threatening or misguided.

The speech comes as the White House pushes the SAVE America Act, which would require voter ID, proof of citizenship for registration, and end universal mail-in ballots.