Ithaca DSA and Ithaca Mayor Robert Cantelmo condemn US Congressman Josh Riley’s silence on the Iran war
The Ithaca Chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America along with Mayor of the City of Ithaca Robert Cantelmo condemn the silence of New York Congressman Josh Riley from District19 during the national horror that Americans were subjected to on April 7th, 2026. While New Yorkers lived through a modern day Cuban Missile Crisis, wondering if President Trump's threats of a nuclear Holocaust in Iran were genuine or merely an insane and unforgivable bargaining strategy, Congressman Josh Riley was silent. He did not issue a statement condemning the President’s declaration that “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again” - a clear and explicit threat of a nuclear strike or similar catastrophic event. Nor did Congressman Riley condemn Trump’s promises on Easter Sunday to destroy civilian infrastructure, a war crime in and of itself under international law.
A leader in this moment should have spoken out. A leader should have condemned the fear that the Trump administration was wielding as a weapon against all people of conscience, and communicated the steps that were necessary to keep the country and the world safe. Nothing short of a call to impeach or to invoke the 25th amendment will do. Congressman Riley would not have had to stand alone. As of writing, 50 house Democrats, led by DSA allies Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and NY Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), are meeting the moment and speaking out against war, showing this country what being a true opposition party looks like. Even Republicans, such as Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Representatives Kevin Kiley of California and Nathanial Moran of Texas, and far-right commentator Tucker Carlson condemned Trump's threats while Josh Riley stayed silent.
Ithaca Mayor and member of the Ithaca DSA, Robert Cantelmo, had this to say about the events of April 7th: “Authority to declare war is clearly vested with Congress under Article I. The president’s operation in Iran is illegal and risks destabilizing the region. Worse still, his behavior threatens international norms, risks escalation, and is putting our service members and the innocent people of Iran in harm’s way. I know Congressman Riley shares my deep respect for the Constitution and I urge him to speak out against this war of choice."
Perhaps Congressman Riley’s reluctance to take a stand against MAGA fascism and our illegal war in Iran is rooted in the fact that as of February 17th, 2026, Track Aipac has found that Josh Riley has taken $882,674 from Pro-Israel Lobby groups and their donors. The breakdown of this money being $119,061 through their PACs and $763,613 through their lobby donors. While 78% of Israelis are currently in favor of this illegal war of choice by the Trump administration, Congressman Riley would do well to note more than 61% of Americans are against this war, and most relevant to a Democratic congressman, 88% of Democrats believe striking Iran in the first place was the wrong decision.
This is a moment of utter moral clarity. There are those who understand the President must be removed immediately, and there are those who are afraid to uphold their sworn oath to the Constitution. The Ithaca Democratic Socialists of America are prepared to meet this moment. If Congressman Riley will not - either due to his campaign contributions, or to calculated pandering to Trump’s MAGA base - then in NY-19, the Democratic Socialists of America must become the opposition party that our country deserves. Join us and help take back our democracy, with the Congressman’s help, or without it.
