Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) was smeared as an “enemy of freedom” in a video shown at a minor league baseball game in Fresno, California over Memorial Day weekend.
The video was shown between games of the Fresno Grizzlies’ doubleheader on Monday and depicted President Ronald Reagan’s first inaugural address from 1981 over images and photos honoring veterans. And the video cited Ocasio-Cortez, North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un and the late Cuban dictator Fidel Castro as examples of “enemies of freedom.”
In the video, the Ronald Reagan of 1981 can be heard saying, “as for the enemies of freedom, those who are potential adversaries — they will be reminded that peace is the highest aspiration of the American people. We will negotiate for it, sacrifice for it. We will not surrender for it, now or ever.”
The Fresno Grizzlies, in an official statement, tweeted that they had not seen the entire video before it was shown at the game, which took place in Fresno’s Chukchansi Park.
According to the Grizzlies’ tweet, “A pre-produced video from outside our front office was selected; unfortunately what was supposed to be a moving tribute ended with some misleading and offensive editing, which made a statement that was not our intent and certainly not our opinion.”
In an e-mail, Grizzlies spokesman Paul Braverman told the Washington Post that the staff member responsible for the video was “remorseful.” And according to the Post, the Grizzlies will be conducting an internal review to find out how the video got their internal controls procedure.
A spokesperson for Ocasio-Cortez, contacted by the Post, declined to comment on the incident.
The 29-year-old New York City congresswoman has been a favorite target of far-right extremists and has required security because of frequent death threats.
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