AOC claims American flag represents labor activists who 'spilled blood' at UAW conference

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez addressed the United Auto Workers (UAW) National CAP Conference in Washington, DC, on Monday, where she reinterpreted the symbolism of the American flag by saying it represents labor activists who have spilt their blood.

The UAW, a prominent union that represents over 400,000 workers, said the second day of its 2026 conference was focused on “calling out corporate greed and focusing on the four core issues that will guide the union into 2028.” During her speech, Ocasio-Cortez promoted pro-labor rhetoric, changing the meaning of the American flag.

"The United States of America, where whose red stands for the valor of Americans, including the labor activists who died and spilled blood so that we could have a weekend and healthcare and dignified wages in this country,” she said. “The white stands for purity of our intense and commitment to one another as Americans and as human beings. White is the purity of our unity, UAW, the purity of our love for our fellow man. The blue stands for justice and vigilance for one another. But this flag doesn't mean those things just because someone said it. This flag means those things because we do it because we dedicate ourselves and live up to it with our actions. That's what makes this flag mean something.”

She continued, yelling to the audience, “We do not pledge allegiance to Wall Street, U-A-W. We don't pledge allegiance to greed. We pledge allegiance to no one president. We pledge allegiance to a nation, our nation, the United States of America, to the betterment of all people because when you organize. UAW, when you strike, when you stand together for each other you pour meaning into that flag. You make it mean something to everybody."

Following her remarks, Ocasio-Cortez took to X, where she celebrated the event, saying that UAW will fight for an economy that helps the “working class,” not just “the very few.” She also expressed how she was looking forward to “May Day,” referencing International Workers’ Day.