Anti-Israel protesters briefly succeeded in ejecting New York Democratic Rep. Josh Riley from his own town hall event on October 6th.
Riley, a freshman lawmaker representing a large sway county in upstate New York was interrupted for nearly six straight minutes over his support for Israel and refusal to call the country's war against Hamas a “genocide.” The congressman eventually left the chamber and a vocal female protester left the chamber before proceeding to the town hall event. (RELATED: Violent pro-Palestinian protest on October 7 left four Boston officers hospitalized)
Explosive scene at town hall comes amid support for Israel fell sharply There is pressure among Democrats and lawmakers from the party's left flank to take a tough stance on the country's war in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military and Hamas stopped fighting on Friday as part of a ceasefire agreement. through mediation partly by President Donald Trump.
“Seventy-five percent of Democratic voters are against you—the United States—giving weapons to Israel,” a silver-haired woman stood and shouted at Riley as he spoke to a crowd on the SUNY Sullivan campus. “Why are you voting to gun Israel?”
LOOK:
Riley repeatedly told the woman he wanted to answer her question, but she needed to follow the town hall format and present her concerns in a respectful and organized manner.
“Just answer,” the woman continued in a raised voice. “People are dying. Americans don't want to support genocide.”
A female protester also attacked Riley for journey to Israel in August with a group of fellow House Democrats. Their visit was sponsored by the American Israel Educational Foundation, part of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
“I would like to answer your question,” Riley then repeated again, even as the woman continued to disrupt the event with anti-Israel remarks.
“You are filibustering!” the male protester immediately responded to Riley.
“You have to listen to your constituents!” the woman told the congressman.
“I'm trying,” Riley said in response before leaving the room. The female protester left the venue before Riley resumed the question-and-answer portion of the town hall event. according to to the local River Reporter.
A representative for Riley did not respond to DCNF's request for comment.
Riley comes as anti-Israel protesters repeatedly broken Former Vice President Kamala Harris' city book tour.
Three in four Democratic voters oppose sending more military aid to Israel for the country's war against Hamas, Quinnipiac vote released in August found.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 25: Anti-Israel protesters demonstrate outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hotel during the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 25, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
Riley also criticized federal law enforcement agents for wearing masks despite increasing attacks on officers and personnel working in dangerous conditions.
“Local law enforcement, no matter who you are, should not be wearing masks,” Riley responded to a constituent who asked how a locality could force Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to unmask when conducting immigration raids.
The freshman lawmaker also expressed support for creating a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants without a criminal record.
The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), the campaign arm of House Republicans, criticized Riley for supporting amnesty for illegal immigrants and opposing law enforcement officials. tedious face masks to protect your identity.
“Radical Democrat Josh Riley has no respect for anyone who disagrees with his dangerous, far-left agenda that puts criminals and illegal immigrants above law enforcement heroes and hardworking New Yorkers,” NRCC spokeswoman Maureen O'Toole said in a statement. “The Upstate deserves better.”
While Riley voted for the GOP-authored Crackdown on Criminal Illegal Immigrants Act, he opposed the One Big Beautiful Bill, which gave ICE historic levels of funding to expand detention capacity and complete construction of the southern border wall. Riley accused Republicans screwed the middle class by passing legislation that also reformed Medicaid and food assistance programs.
The Democrat also invested up to $15,000 worth of stock in a distillery “owned by women and run by gay men” that sells spirits with left-wing messages such as Tears of Fascism vodka and Dissent gin, the original New York Post reported. reported.
Early analysis of the 2026 race for New York's 17th Congressional District rates “Thrifty Democrat” competition. Current Federal Transit Administration (FTA) chief Marc Molinaro, whom Riley defeated in 2024 in the most expensive House race of the cycle, will not seek a rematch.
All content produced by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and unbiased news service, is available free of charge to any legitimate news publisher that can reach a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter's byline and DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our policies or partnerships with us, please contact [email protected].
