A coalition of radical left-wing groups, including organizations with ties to prominent Democratic figures and donors, has publicly endorsed Elias Rodriguez, the Chicago man who confessed to murdering two Israeli diplomats, Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky, outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. This endorsement has sparked widespread condemnation and raised concerns about the infiltration of anti-Semitic sentiments within certain political circles.
The Tariq El-Tahrir Youth and Student Network organized an open letter signed by 21 organizations and activists, labeling Rodriguez’s actions as “fully justified,” “eminently defensible,” and “morally righteous.” The letter also calls to “GLOBALIZE THE INTIFADA,” a slogan associated with pro-Palestinian movements on college campuses.
Among the signatories is the Liberation Caucus of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), a group linked to “Squad” members Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D- NY), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI.), and Greg Casar (D-TX). Democratic activist Kamau Franklin, treasurer of the Soros-funded Black Voters Matter Action PAC, also signed the letter and promoted it on social media. Other signatories include the Brandeis Jewish Bund, an anti-Zionist group at Brandeis University, and Bronx Anti War, co-founded by a member of the Soros-funded Jewish Voice for Peace.
Some of these groups have direct ties to organizations designated as terrorist entities. For instance, the leader of Nidal Seattle, another signatory, is a member of Samidoun, an anti-Israel group designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and Canada due to its ties to Hamas.
Rodriguez, a former member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) and the ANSWER Coalition, both linked to anti-Israel activism, had previously attended a “resistance” conference funded by a network described as a conduit between the Chinese Communist Party and domestic anti-Israel groups. This network raised money for Rodriguez’s trip to the conference in 2017.
The PSL acknowledged Rodriguez’s past affiliation but claimed it ended in 2017. However, his involvement in radical activism and connections to extremist groups have raised alarms about the extent of anti-Semitic ideologies permeating certain activist circles.
