Progressives grapple with “Woke 1” as leaders tone down 2020 protest rhetoric

In a recent broadcast, Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez described the 2020 calls to defund police and abolish prisons as “Woke 1 was crazyyyyy,” echoing a broader trend among prominent progressives, including Bernie Sanders and New York mayor‑elect Zohran Mamdani, to avoid the “woke” label and the specific “defund” terminology. Critics on the left argue the shift betrays progressive principles, while some observers note that voter concerns are increasingly focused on issues such as housing costs and fuel prices.

The debate follows a Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial primary in which David Crowley narrowly beat State Assemblywoman Francesca Hong after Hong faced backlash for a Thanksgiving tweet tied to the “Woke 1” phenomenon. The conversation continues to shape how progressive politicians frame social‑justice policies.