A segment of the Democratic Socialists of America has thrown its weight behind an open letter declaring that Elias Rodriguez, the alleged murderer of two Israeli embassy staff, was “fully justified” in killing the couple because he intended to prevent “genocide.”
The Palestinian activist group Tariq El-Tahrir released the letter Monday. The Democratic Socialists of America Liberation Caucus signed it, while other parts of the DSA condemned Rodriguez. Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a candidate for New York City mayor, condemned the letter and urged his opponents in the primary to do likewise.
“Elias Rodriguez’s targeted attack on two israeli diplomatic staff on May 21, 2025 was a legitimate act of resistance against the zionist state and its genocidal campaign in Gaza,” the letter states (the author appears to have intentionally lowercased both “Israeli” and “Zionist”). Rodriguez reportedly shouted, “Free Palestine,” and confessed to killing Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Milgrim, 26, outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C.
The letter frames the shooting as a “fully justified” response to “twenty months of non-stop apocalyptic violence wrought by the zionist movement.” It accuses Israel of advancing a “supremacist world view” and “cementing the festering settler colony they have, temporarily, established on Palestinian land.” It claims international law sanctions violent attempts to prevent a “genocide.”
“To be clear, what we are asserting is more than a recognition that the violence and oppression meted out by the zionist movement will inevitably give rise to counter-violence, an indisputable truism,” the letter states. “We are saying that such counter-violence is legitimate. It is justice.”
Thirty-three organizations and one individual publicly signed the letter.
Democratic Socialists of America
The Democratic Socialists of America did not support the letter, but one of the party’s caucuses, the Liberation Caucus, did.
“Excellent statement that we are proud to add our name to,” the DSA Liberation Caucus posted on X. “Free Elias Rodriguez and all political prisoners.”
Excellent statement that we are proud to add our name to. Free Elias Rodriguez and all political prisoners. https://t.co/z1yW0xm5xZ pic.twitter.com/6MIBhaCFKX— DSA Liberation Caucus ???? ? (@dsaliberation) May 27, 2025
The Democratic Socialists of America claims to have more than 92,000 members, following the presidential campaigns of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. The party endorsed many Democrat politicians, helping to secure victories for Reps. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., among others. Notably, the party withdrew its support for Ocasio-Cortez last year, citing her vote for a resolution affirming Israel’s “right to exist.”
The New York City DSA chapter condemned the violence of Rodriguez’s actions, but many DSA members condemned this denunciation of violence, The Free Press reported.
NYC-DSA believes in a world where political struggle is free of bloodshed. We reject the violence of last night’s fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers and commit, as always, to organizing for a world where all people can live in safety, dignity, and freedom.— NYC-DSA ? (@nycDSA) May 22, 2025
The Liberation Caucus posted Wednesday that it is “just one” of “many different ideological tendencies” within the party.
“Right wing news outlets and individuals have chosen to take the statement we signed to portray the entire organization as holding our views—this is wrong,” the caucus added.
Cuomo Criticism
Andrew Cuomo, the former New York governor and current mayoral candidate, condemned the letter and urged his fellow candidates in the race to do likewise.
“This must be denounced for the insulting and revolting disregard for human life and legal standards that it is,” Cuomo posted on X Wednesday. “This was an obvious and blatant hate crime for which this nation must have zero tolerance.”
He highlighted the fact that the letter calls Rodriguez a “political prisoner,” and noted that Rodriguez isn’t in jail for his political views but because he faces murder charges.
Cuomo noted that his opponents in the mayor’s race are members of the DSA or have been supported by DSA members. “I call on them to denounce this inflammatory position which is abhorrent to the Jewish community and all law abiding Americans,” he concluded.
This must be denounced for the insulting and revolting disregard for human life and legal standards that it is. This was an obvious and blatant hate crime for which this nation must have zero tolerance.
Elias Rodriguez is not a “political prisoner”, he is charged with murder… https://t.co/J6byVp37sn— Andrew Cuomo (@andrewcuomo) May 28, 2025
The Democratic Socialists of America did not respond to The Daily Signal’s request for comment by publication time.
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