Rep. Ocasio-Cortez stands with Hunts Point Market workers on strike

Appearing on Cuomo Prime Time Thursday, the NY congresswoman explained that part of the reason that she opted to go to a union strike in the Bronx rather than the Inauguration was because she felt threatened by her congressional peers.

This was supposed to be a show of force, and unity, and you weren't there.

The moment you bring a gun on to the House floor in violation of rules, you put everyone around you in danger.

"I think we also had very real security concerns as well, as you mentioned earlier".

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said she was anxious about her safety in the aftermath of the Capitol riot and in light of news that some Congress members appeared inclined to bring firearms to work.

"Some of us can get a little bit of safe harbour by working from home or telecommuting". "I believe it was Representative Andy Harris of Maryland".

Congress members are prohibited from carrying firearms onto the House and Senate floors, but they are allowed to have guns in their offices and carry them on Capitol grounds. If you are irresponsible, if you are trying to break rules, you're trying to sneak a firearm on to the floor of the House - I don't care if you accidentally set it off, I don't care if you intentionally set it off, I don't care if you don't set it off at all. Now, these are rules that date back to the Civil War. These are individuals that are trying to sneak firearms either illegally or in direct violation of House rules. The House tightened its safety protocols and installed a metal detector in front of the House floor, but some Republicans have scoffed at the measures or disregarded them altogether. Members like Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado says she would like to carry her Glock at all times. You are endangering the lives of members of congress.

NBC News is reporting that among those resisting or refusing were Reps.

"GOP lawmakers campaigned with images of them cocking guns next to photos of myself". I don't care if you don't set it off at all. She alleges that she had a "very close encounter" where she thought she "was going to die" during the "traumatizing" incident.

She said that it is "not an exaggeration" to say that many members of the House were "nearly assassinated". "Many of us merely narrowly escaped death".