Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's State of the Union guest is activist who confronted Jeff Flake in elevator
By Caitlin O'Kane
/ CBS News
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has become known for making a statement – and she's not going to attend President Trump's State of the Union address without sending a message of her own. The New Yorker is bringing a special guest to her first State of the Union as a congresswoman: Ana Maria Archila. The activist is known for confronting then-Sen. Jeff Flake in an elevator during the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
Archila, the co-executive director of Center for Popular Democracy Action, told Flake, who has since joined CBS News as a contributor, about her own sexual assault, urging him not to vote to confirm Kavanaugh. Video of the interaction, which took place in a stopped elevator, went viral.
After Archila was widely seen online, she appeared on "CBS This Morning" to talk about the interaction. She said she had been going to Washington, D.C., for weeks trying to talk to senators about her concerns over Kavanaugh joining the Supreme Court – even before he faced allegations of sexual assault. "I think that he stands for the rollback of decades of progress for women's rights, for communities of color, for workers, for immigrants," Archila said.
"I was doing the work of making my voice heard, bringing others to make sure that the decision was informed by the appearances of people who stood to lose so much."
Protesters confront Senator Jeff Flake in elevator following "yes" on Kavanaugh
"Look at me when I'm talking to you!": Senator Jeff Flake was confronted by protesters after he announced that he would vote to confirm judge Brett Kavanaugh. https://cbsn.ws/2N8YAQb
Posted by CBS News on Friday, September 28, 2018
Archila and another woman, Maria Gallagher, decided to go to Flake's office, where they saw his statement of support for Kavanaugh after the judge and Christine Blasey Ford testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
"So, when we saw him, we were having all these reactions of, how can you do this?" Archila said. "We just heard a woman yesterday, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, pour her heart out and tell about attacks to protect our country. I stood in front of his office and told my story to protect my children and the country they're growing up in."
The two women stood outside an elevator confronting Flake, who was inside as they told him of their experiences with sexual assault: "Look at me when I'm talking to you! You're telling me that my assault doesn't matter!" one woman said.
Ocasio-Cortez announced that Archila would be her State of the Union guest on Monday, writing on Twitter that Archila is a New Yorker from the 14th District, which the congresswoman represents.
The activist "famously jumped into the elevator with Sen. Flake to elevate the stories of survivors everywhere," Ocasio-Cortez wrote. "She's living proof that the courage within all of us can change the [world]."
I’m proud to announce that my #StateOfTheUnion guest will be @AnaMariaArchil2.
Ana Maria is the NY14-er who famously jumped into the elevator with Sen. Flake to elevate the stories of survivors everywhere.
She‘s living proof that the courage within all of us can change the 🌎. https://t.co/OLSeNbP4Z2
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 4, 2019
Other State of the Union guests include Logan Ireland, an Air Force staff sergeant who identifies as transgender and will be attending with Rep. Jackie Speier, D-California, and Cameron Kasky, a survivor of last year's deadly school shooting in Florida and a student activist, who will attend with Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-California.
CBS News will broadcast and stream Mr. Trump's State of the Union address, which is expected to begin Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET.
First published on February 5, 2019
© 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Woman who confronted Jeff Flake going to State of the Union
Ana Maria Archila is known for confronting Jeff Flake in an elevator during the Kavanaugh hearings and telling him about her own sexual assault
updated 13M ago 
Facebook messenger rolls out unsend feature
After Facebook came under fire for letting Mark Zuckerberg alter message history, it gave all users an "unsend" option
updated 20M ago 
Nurse accused of assaulting patient pleads not guilty
Nathan Sutherland is accused of raping a patient at Hacienda HealthCare
updated 28M ago 
New report finds no foreign interference in 2018 elections
The DOJ and DHS worked with federal, state and local officials in all 50 states and in more than 1400 local jurisdictions to safeguard the election
updated 43M ago 
Boy bullied over his name going to State of the Union
The sixth grader, Joshua Trump, was bullied for his last name so much that his parents tried homeschooling
1H ago 
Woman who confronted Jeff Flake going to State of the Union
Ana Maria Archila is known for confronting Jeff Flake in an elevator during the Kavanaugh hearings and telling him about her own sexual assault
updated 13M ago
New report finds no foreign interference in 2018 elections
The DOJ and DHS worked with federal, state and local officials in all 50 states and in more than 1400 local jurisdictions to safeguard the election
updated 43M ago
Boy bullied over his name going to State of the Union
The sixth grader, Joshua Trump, was bullied for his last name so much that his parents tried homeschooling
1H ago 
White House responds to Trump inaugural committee subpoena
The sweeping subpoena is looking for records related to the Trump inaugural committee and donors
2H ago 
The state of the facts on Trump's foreign policy
Trump's State of the Union address is likely to include the mention of some of these foreign policy challenges
2H ago 
Russia says it must develop new missiles as nuke treaty falls apart
Day after Moscow says it will not "strive for an arms race," Russian military announces plans for long-banned new weapons with Europe in range
1H ago 
As Brexit looms, stockpiling goods hits high gear
Anticipating a split without a deal from the EU, businesses and consumers are preparing by stocking up
3H ago 
How hunger is fueling Venezuela's fast-rising opposition
At least 38 countries now support opposition leader Juan Guaidó, and voices backing embattled President Nicolas Maduro are dwindling
3H ago 
"Where is my son?" One family's pain in the Brazil dam disaster
AP photographer documents story of a grieving mother, her family's anguish and anger at the company behind the catastrophe
6H ago 
Pope gives historic 1st Mass in birthplace of Islam
Francis ministered to thriving Catholic community in United Arab Emirates as he concluded landmark visit to Arabian Peninsula
7H ago 
Watch the New England Patriots' Super Bowl LIII victory parade
Unlike the snowy, cold parade two years ago, Tuesday is supposed to be a beautiful day for a championship parade in Boston
1H ago 
Andy Cohen welcomes baby boy via surrogate
Cohen's first child was born in Los Angeles on Monday evening
4H ago 
Liam Neeson under fire for comments on race and revenge
Liam Neeson admits in an interview he once had violent thoughts about killing a black person after learning that someone close to him had been raped
3H ago 
Grammy nominee H.E.R. on seeing her "vision come to life"
At 21 years old, the R&B singer-songwriter is up for five Grammy Awards including best new artist and album of the year
21H ago 
Parkland dad who slammed Louis C.K. to attend State of the Union
A grieving father who responded to Louis C.K.'s jokes about the Parkland shooting with a standup routine of his own has been invited to Tuesday's State of the Union address
21H ago 
What happened when I asked Alexa and Google Assistant for my data
As smart home devices become increasingly popular, concerns about data collection aren't going away
updated 35M ago 
Crypto company out $137M after passwords die with owner
The founder's widow said "repeated and diligent searches" for a password have failed
13H ago 
Tech investor says Facebook is "terrible for America"
"Zucked" author Roger McNamee says Facebook is a threat to democracy, public health and privacy, and makes everyone vulnerable to bad actors
Feb 4 
Meteorite appears to hit Cuba
In a tweet, the National Weather Service said its radar "may have detected the meteor" at 1:21 p.m. near Viñales, Cuba
Feb 1 
"Lies spread faster than truth" on social media, journalist says
The CEO of Rappler alleged the online news website has been targeted by social media disinformation campaigns after its tough reporting on the government
Feb 1 
Pot for pets? Cannabis products marketed for animals
Some animal lovers are giving the supplements a try, but experts caution they aren't necessarily a good fit for every pet
21H ago 
3rd poultry firm recalls chicken on fears of tainted goods
Pilgrim's Pride recall follows Tyson and Perdue moves to stop sales of food possibly tainted with extraneous material
22H ago 
Obesity-linked cancers rising for young Americans
Cancers tied to extra weight keep climbing among those aged 25 to 49, a new study finds
17H ago 
Bill would eventually make Hawaii first state to ban cigarette sales
Measure would gradually raise minimum age of people allowed to buy them to 100
Feb 4 
An end to food allergies?
26 million people, including 6 million kids, are allergic to one food or another, with peanuts producing one of the most severe reactions; might a reversal of medical advice slow or even eliminate the problem?
Feb 3 
Facebook messenger rolls out unsend feature
After Facebook came under fire for letting Mark Zuckerberg alter message history, it gave all users an "unsend" option
updated 20M ago 
Ban on foie gras in NYC restaurants proposed
Bill would have the Big Apple following California in outlawing delicacy that animal advocates say involves cruelty
updated 44M ago 
The state of the facts on U.S. economy, taxes and more
Solid economic growth gives President Trump something to brag about in State of the Union address, though clouds hover
2H ago
As Brexit looms, stockpiling goods hits high gear
Anticipating a split without a deal from the EU, businesses and consumers are preparing by stocking up
3H ago 
Super Bowl betting: Fans wager $185.5 million legally in three states
The game was the first major pro sports event to be posted on the boards of sportsbooks outside Nevada
3H ago 
Nurse accused of assaulting patient pleads not guilty
Nathan Sutherland is accused of raping a patient at Hacienda HealthCare
updated 28M ago 
Va. state trooper, drug suspect shot to death during home search
Authorities say suspect fired at officers who entered a home to look for drugs, killing trooper, and officers then shot suspect
5H ago 
Lawsuit alleges "inhumane" conditions in cold Brooklyn jail
A lawsuit filed Monday says a weeklong power failure at a federal jail in New York City caused "inhumane conditions" for inmates
16H ago 
Judge lets church shooting victims sue gun retailer
Families of those killed in the 2017 massacre in Sutherland Springs argue Academy Sport & Outdoors is liable
17H ago 
Jury begins deliberations over fate of infamous drug lord El Chapo
The jury has heard months of testimony about Joaquin Guzman's rise to power as the head of the Sinaloa cartel
16H ago Original Article
