AOC Gives Up Meat For Lent To Honor Jamie Raskin's Late Son

SILVER SPRING, MD — U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) says she's going vegetarian for Lent to honor Rep. Jamie Raskin's late son, Tommy. The Maryland Democrat's son died by suicide late last year.

In a tweet on Wednesday, AOC asked her 12.4 million followers to join in — even if they didn't observe Lent. She said that Raskin told her, "Well you'd have to do it the way Tommy would, which means bring people along with you!"

Ok everyone, I need help!

A few weeks ago I told @RepRaskin that this year I wanted to adopt a vegetarian diet for Lent in memory of his son Tommy.

Jamie said, "Well you'd have to do it the way Tommy would, which means bring people along with you!"

So, I have 3 requests:
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 18, 2021

AOC has three rules for those who want to join her: no judgment; no one has to eat vegetarian for all 40 days of Lent; and everyone is welcome to participate.

She also asked her followers to share their favorite vegetarian recipes.

Tommy, a Harvard Law School student, died in December at the age of 25. His parents opened up about his death soon after in an obituary posted to Medium.

The grieving couple remembered Tommy as an avid vegan who had "a perfect heart, a perfect soul, a riotously outrageous and relentless sense of humor, and a dazzling radiant mind."

SEE ALSO:

• 'A Radiant Light:' Grieving Raskin Family Remembers Late Son
• Rep. Raskin's Family At Capitol When It Was Overrun By Rioters