Democrat Gets Shouted Out Of His Own Town Hall By Raging Anti-Israel Protesters
Anti-Israel protesters briefly managed to oust New York Democratic Rep. Josh Riley from his own town hall on October 6.
Riley, a new lawmaker representing a sprawling district in upstate New York, was heckled for nearly six minutes straight over his support for Israel and his refusal to call the country’s war against Hamas a “genocide.” The congressman eventually left the room while a noisy protester left the premises before proceeding with the event at City Hall. (RELATED: Violent October 7 Pro-Palestinian Protest Leaves Four Boston Officers Hospitalized)
The explosive scene at the town hall came as support for Israel has plummeted among Democrats and lawmakers are under pressure from the party’s left wing to take a hard line against the country’s war in Gaza. The Israeli military and Hamas stopped fighting Friday as part of a ceasefire deal brokered in part by President Donald Trump.
“Seventy-five percent of Democratic voters are against you – the United States – giving weapons to Israel,” a gray-haired woman shouted at Riley as he spoke to the crowd on the SUNY Sullivan campus. “Why are you voting for arms to Israel?
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Riley repeatedly told the woman that he wanted to answer her question, but that she needed to follow the town hall format of presenting her concerns in a respectful and orderly manner.
“Answer it,” the woman continued in a raised voice. “People are dying. Americans don’t want to support genocide.”
The protester also criticized Riley for traveling to Israel in August with a group of fellow House Democrats. The American Israel Education Foundation, affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), sponsored their visit.
“I would love to answer your question,” Riley then repeated despite the woman continuing to disrupt the event with anti-Israel arguments.
“You’re being obstructive!” » » a protester immediately responded to Riley.
“You’re supposed to listen to your constituents!” the woman told the congressman.
“I try,” Riley replied before leaving the room. The protester left the scene before Riley resumed the question-and-answer portion of the event at town hall, according to local newspaper River Reporter.
A spokesperson for Riley did not respond to DCNF’s request for comment.
Riley’s announcement comes as anti-Israel protesters repeatedly disrupted former Vice President Kamala Harris’ multi-city book tour.
Three in four Democratic voters oppose sending additional military aid to Israel for the country’s war against Hamas, according to a Quinnipiac poll released in August.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 25: Anti-Israel protesters demonstrate near Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hotel during the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 25, 2025 in New York. (Photo by Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
Riley also criticized federal law enforcement officers for masking despite increasing attacks on officers and staff subjected to unsafe working conditions.
“Local law enforcement, no matter who you are, should not be wearing masks,” Riley responded to a constituent who asked how the locality could force Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to unmask during immigration raids.
The new lawmaker also expressed support for creating a pathway to citizenship for illegal migrants without criminal records.
The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), the campaign arm of House Republicans, criticized Riley for supporting amnesty for illegal immigrants and opposing law enforcement officers wearing face masks to protect their identities.
“Radical Democrat Josh Riley has no respect for anyone who disagrees with his dangerous far-left agenda that prioritizes criminals and illegal immigrants over law enforcement heroes and hard-working New Yorkers,” said NRCC spokeswoman Maureen O’Toole. “Upstate deserves better.”
Although Riley voted for GOP-written legislation aimed at cracking down on criminal illegal immigrants, he opposed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which provided historic funding levels for ICE to increase its detention capacity and complete construction of the southern border wall. Riley accused Republicans of “shitting” on the middle class by passing the law, which also reformed the Medicaid and food assistance programs.
The Democrat also invested up to $15,000 worth of stock in a ‘woman-owned, gay-run’ distillery that sells alcoholic beverages with left-wing messages such as ‘Fascist Tears’ vodka and ‘Dissent’ gin, the New York Post first reported.
Early analyzes of the 2026 race for New York’s 17th Congressional District characterize the contest as a “Lean Democrat.” Marc Molinaro, now head of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), whom Riley defeated in 2024 in the most expensive House race of the cycle, should not seek revenge.
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