Democratic debate: AOC praises Cory Booker for encouraging men to fight for women's reproductive rights

New York congresswoman shows approval via social media

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has praised Cory Booker for urging men to get involved in the fight for reproductive rights and saying “women not be the only ones taking up this cause”.

Speaking at the Democratic debate in Ohio, senator Kamala Harris said it was disappointing the issue of women’s access to reproductive health care had barely been raised.

“Not one word with all of these discussions about health care, on women’s access to reproductive health care. It’s outrageous,” she said.

“People need to keep their hands off of women’s bodies and let women make the decisions about their own lives.”

At that point, senator Cory Booker intervened to say: “God bless Kamala, but women should not be the only ones taking up this fight.”

He added: “It’s not just because women are our daughters and our friends and our wives. It’s because women are people.”

Some on social media accused Mr Booker of either mansplaining or “virtue signalling”.

Yet, he also received plenty of support, including from the New York congresswoman.

On Twitter, the 29-year-old drew attention to a tweet that read “What Cory just did is so important so don’t miss it”, with an arrow and the words “that part”.