Civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton compared New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to the late Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm during the recent March on Washington, highlighting what he described as similarities between the two politicians and their willingness to challenge the political establishment.
Sharpton made the comparison as thousands gathered in Washington, D.C., for the âDefend the Voteâ March on Washington, held 63 years after the historic 1963 demonstration led by civil rights leaders, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The 2026 event focused heavily on protecting voting rights and opposing what organizers described as a rollback of civil rights protections.
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Introducing Ocasio-Cortez, Sharpton drew a connection between the Bronx-born Democrat and Chisholm, the Brooklyn congresswoman who in 1972 became the first Black candidate to seek the Democratic Party’s nomination for president and the first Black woman to serve in Congress.
Sharpton’s comparison also carried a personal historical connection. As a teenager, he worked as youth director for Chisholm’s 1972 presidential campaign, making him a firsthand witness to her political style and determination.
Ocasio-Cortez was among several prominent political figures participating in this year’s march, alongside Sen. Bernie Sanders and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. The gathering was organized by Sharpton’s National Action Network and the Drum Major Institute, led by Martin Luther King III and Arndrea Waters King, with support from more than 90 community organizations.
The march comes amid heightened debate over voting rights following a U.S. Supreme Court decision that weakened a key provision of the Voting Rights Act and opened the door for congressional redistricting battles in several Southern states. Civil rights leaders have warned that some of the changes could reduce Black political representation ahead of the November midterm elections.
Sharpton has argued that the current political climate requires a new generation of activists and political leaders to continue the work associated with the civil rights movement. His comparison of Ocasio-Cortez with Chisholm placed the congresswoman within that broader tradition of political activism and representation.
The reference to Chisholm was particularly significant because of her historic role in expanding the political possibilities for women and people of color in national politics. Her 1972 presidential campaign challenged both racial and gender barriers and helped establish a path for future generations of minority candidates.
Friday’s gathering echoed the themes of the original March on Washington, while addressing contemporary concerns about voting access, political representation and racial equality. Organizers said the goal was not simply to commemorate the historic 1963 demonstration but to mobilize voters and activists ahead of the upcoming elections.
With Ocasio-Cortez among the prominent voices at the event, Sharpton’s comparison underscored the organizers’ effort to connect the legacy of earlier civil rights leaders with a new generation of political figures.
