With 435 members of Congress, you’d be forgiven for not knowing all of their names. Apparently CJ Pearson, the teen Internet star/activist who’s gone back and forth between supporting conservatives and progressives, did not know who Rep. Nydia Velázquez was, and referred to her in a tweet during the State of the Union as “the woman sitting next to [AOC].” This prompted an incredibly strange and threatening response from the New York Democrat.
“@AOC has been talking this entire speech and the woman next to her keeps trying to look the other way,” the teenager, who lives in Georgia, tweeted.
.@AOC has been talking this entire speech and the woman next to her keeps trying to look the other way ????.
— CJ Pearson (@thecjpearson) February 6, 2019
“Hi @TheCJPearson, I'm not "the woman sitting next to her". @AOC and I -- and millions like us -- are the future of this country. And you're right to be afraid of us,” she replied. “But you should learn my name.”
Hi @TheCJPearson, I'm not "the woman sitting next to her". @AOC and I -- and millions like us -- are the future of this country. And you're right to be afraid of us.
— Nydia M Velázquez (@ReElectNydia) February 6, 2019
But you should learn my name. https://t.co/frL8ikNDcV
Twitter did not take kindly to the lawmaker's response.
You do know that @thecjpearson is a minor right? You sound like you are threatening a minor...
— Obianuju Ekeocha (@obianuju) February 6, 2019
United States Citizens should NEVER fear politicians. This tweet is deeply disturbing.
— Julie Betts (@JulieLvsPACKERS) February 6, 2019
Wow. You had an opportunity to introduce yourself in a diplomatic way. Instead you chose to let citizens know we should be afraid of you. Not to mention on a night when POTUS was calling for unity.. literally right in front of you. Who are the divisive ones again?? ??
— Allie Mass (@AllieMassengale) February 6, 2019
Perhaps you would like to clarify what, exactly, the young man should fear from his elected representatives?
— Michelle Ray (@GaltsGirl) February 6, 2019
You may be the future of New York, but you’re not the future of this country.
— McKinley ???? (@mwmcenroe) February 6, 2019
This tweet is disturbing... An elected official who demands that they be feared is an elected official who should never have been elected in the first place.
— Lady Porch ?? (@TheMrsPorch) February 6, 2019
You’re the rep for the district where an MS 13 member just shot and killed someone on a subway?
— Omar Navarro for Congress Campaign (@PressGop) February 6, 2019
lol, did you just say that we should be afraid of our elected representatives?? If you believe that, you have no business holding office.
— Adam Trahan (@AdamTrahan) February 6, 2019
Threatening the constituency? Who are you, Joseph Stalin? Oops. You probably don't know who that is.
— Amy R (@LittleHawaii) February 6, 2019
Pearson responded that he genuinely didn't know who she was and told her that perhaps if she worked harder more Americans would know her name.
I’m sorry if I bruised your ego but genuinely, I really don’t know you are. Do less tweeting and more work, Congresswoman. Maybe, then, more Americans will know your name. Be blessed.
— CJ Pearson (@thecjpearson) February 6, 2019