Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will have only 60 seconds for her pre-recorded speech at the Democratic National Convention in what supporters say is a ‘slap to the Progressive wing’
- The Democratic National Convention will run online from Monday to Thursday
- Michelle Obama will speak on Monday night to begin proceedings
- Joe Biden will accept the nomination on Thursday at a grand finale
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has been told to pre-record her 60-second speech
- AOC responded by quoting a poem entitled ‘Life Is Just a Minute’
- ‘Forced upon me, I did not choose it, But I know that I must use it,’ she quoted
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will only have one minute to speak at the Democratic National Convention next week, in what some say is a surprising snub for the high-profile, rising star.
The convention was due to be staged in Milwaukee but is being held virtually this year, owing to the coronavirus pandemic.
AOC, as she is known, will not speak live, but instead will deliver a pre-recorded message on Tuesday night – the same night as Bill Clinton.
Others, however, will be permitted to address the convention live – among them Chuck Schumer, the Senate Minority Leader, and Pete Buttigieg, former presidential contender and mayor of South Bend, Indiana.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 30, will deliver a 60-second message on Tuesday night at the DNC
The four-day online convention, which begins on Monday, is held under the title Uniting America.
It will feature different themes and speakers each day during two-hour broadcasts beginning at 9pm ET.
Michelle Obama and Bernie Sanders are opening proceedings on Monday night.
On Tuesday Bill Clinton, Schumer and Jill Biden are the main speakers.
Wednesday night sees speakers including Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton and Gabrielle Giffords – the Tucson congresswoman shot in the head, who has become a dedicated campaigner for gun control.
The event concludes on Thursday night with Kamala Harris accepting the nomination for vice president, and Joe Biden making his headline, nomination-accepting address.
Supporters of the Bronx-born congresswoman were up in arms over her representation at the convention.
She supported Bernie Sanders in the race for the nomination, rather than Biden.
![Some pointed out that AOC, as she is known, is yet to work her way up Democrat ranks](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/08/13/06/31894440-8622365-image-m-27_1597297607164.jpg)
Some pointed out that AOC, as she is known, is yet to work her way up Democrat ranks
![Others were enraged at the allocation of such a short amount of time to the Leftist leader](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/08/13/06/31895086-8622365-image-a-31_1597297744331.jpg)
Others were enraged at the allocation of such a short amount of time to the Leftist leader
‘What a slap to the Progressive wing,’ said one supporter.
‘It’s a constant spite of us. They think we will cower and peter our. They are wrong. We ain’t going anywhere.
‘With @AOC as our leader we’re just getting started. Now that the squad was re-elected we are ready to rumble in the halls of Congress.’
Another admirer suggested: ‘Other speakers should finish early then say at the end of their that the remainder of their time is going to @AOC,’ adding the hashtag #LetHerSpeak.
![One fan suggested that other speakers 'donate' their allotted time to AOC to give her more](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/08/13/06/31895088-8622365-image-a-32_1597297802801.jpg)
One fan suggested that other speakers ‘donate’ their allotted time to AOC to give her more
But others pointed out that Ocasio-Cortez is a first-term congresswoman, yet to rise through the ranks.
Ocasio-Cortez, 30, did not seem bitter and acknowledged the news by tweeting the poem ‘Life Is Just a Minute’ by Benjamin E. Mays.
‘I only have a minute. Sixty seconds in it. Forced upon me, I did not choose it, But I know that I must use it. Give account if I abuse it. Suffer, if I lose it. Only a tiny little minute, But eternity is in it.’
The poem, she noted, was recited by the late Elijah Cummings, representative for Maryland.
![AOC herself accepted the news by posting a poem entitled 'Life Is Just a Minute'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/08/13/06/31894424-8622365-image-a-33_1597297832059.jpg)
AOC herself accepted the news by posting a poem entitled ‘Life Is Just a Minute’