Caucus Self-Identified as Part of the DSA Backs Suspected Killer of Two Israeli Embassy Staffers
A Maoist caucus self-identified as part of the DSA has backed the suspected killer of two Israeli embassy staffers, highlighting how violent ideologies can take root in broader political movements.
A self-labeled Marxist-Leninist-Maoist group within the Democratic Socialists of America called the “DSA Liberation Caucus” has made posts in support of Elias Rodriguez, who was charged by the U.S. Department of Justice for allegedly killing two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington, DC. One post declared, “It is right to rebel against the enemy. This is a Maoist law,” alongside a graphic image of Rodriguez standing in front of a Palestinian flag with a hammer and sickle. Another post endorsed a statement by the radical group Unity of Fields that called for Rodriguez’s release and referred to him as a “political prisoner.” Although the DSA condemned the murder of the Israeli embassy staff and stated, “Any statement otherwise is not the stance of DSA,” they have not specifically condemned the caucus that made the statements, leaving questions about the boundaries within their own ranks.
Graphic Imagery and Pro-Terrorist Messaging
The DSA Liberation Caucus has previously shared propaganda promoting terrorist violence. On May 18, it posted an image of an armed terrorist with the caption, “Either Palestine or fire, generation after generation,” including the logo of the U.S.-designated terror group PFLP. The group’s website features a statement titled “Intifada Until Victory: On Nakba Week 2025,” which calls for continued armed struggle against Israel and praises the October 7th Hamas massacre as “righteous and justified.”
Attempts to Distance From the Broader DSA
The group also tried to separate itself from the wider Democratic Socialists of America, stating, “Liberation is not all of DSA. DSA is comprised of many different ideological tendencies, we are just one. 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.”
However, such overt statements in support for political violence and acts of terrorism stands out as a disturbing indicator of the radical fringes that can exist within a larger political movement. The DSA Liberation Caucus stated that it plans to open applications in the summer to recruit more people to its ranks. This poses the risk of shifting the Overton window and normalizing extremist ideas within broader leftist politics, creating an environment where calls for violence and terrorism can be seen as legitimate.
Red-Green Alliance: Ideological Crossroads of Leftist and Islamist Movements
The DSA Liberation Caucus’s embrace of violence and militant struggle mirrors the ideological convergence between radical leftist movements and Islamist groups. Researcher Tirza Shorr of the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs elucidates how this alignment, often called the “Red-Green Alliance,” shows that both Marxist and Islamist ideologies are rooted in uncompromising beliefs that justify violence and view the West as an enemy. The two movements share a tendency to exploit marginalized communities as foot soldiers and propagate revolutionary fervor through militant imagery and calls for armed struggle.
Maoist Influences in Modern Violent Rhetoric
Maoist concepts such as “people’s war” have become a rallying cry for the DSA Liberation Caucus and other radical groups. As Shorr notes, this strategy of continuous conflict reflects how the Palestinian cause has been co-opted by both Marxist and Islamist ideologies to justify violence as a revolutionary necessity. The group’s posts calling for violent resistance and supporting acts of terror align with these broader historical patterns and show how Maoist principles have found new expression in contemporary radical-leftist groups.
Fringe Radicalism and the Erosion of Democratic Discourse
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) has several current and former high-profile House members among its ranks, including Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), former Rep. Jamal Bowman (D-NY), ex-Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), and Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas).). It is not publicly known how many members the DSA Liberation Caucus itself has, the fact that a self-labeled Marxist-Leninist-Maoist caucus within a sizeable U.S. political organization is glorifying and praising acts of political violence and the killing of civilians is deeply troubling. These endorsements of terrorism and calls for armed struggle show how violent extremist ideologies can find a foothold within broader political movements, posing serious challenges for democratic discourse and public safety.