DSA Lawmaker Claims Shoplifting For "Biological Need" Shouldn't Be Illegal
A radical Democratic Socialist lawmaker from New York is under fire after declaring that theft driven by "biological need" shouldn't be treated as a crime, effectively green-lighting shoplifting while slamming big retailers.
Emily Gallagher, a New York State Assembly member and part of the Democratic Socialists of America's New York State Socialists in Office caucus, sparked outrage this week with comments defending petty theft at a press conference outside Manhattan Criminal Court.
"Most of what we saw were crimes of poverty - people who are stealing things like toothpaste, people who were stealing things like, you know, soap. And that means if you're stealing those things, you need them. And we are choosing to protect billion-dollar companies, like CVS and Walgreens, over the people who are struggling to get by," Gallagher said, according to the New York Post.
"So I would say that the true crime is that there is such incredible wealth disparity in this city that there are people who can be thrown in jail simply for having a biological need."
Gallagher went on to tout her soft-on-crime criminal justice "reforms" while blasting conservative media for opposing the anti-law-and-order policies that have already wreaked havoc on New York City and other Democrat-run cities across the country.
However, everyday New Yorkers aren't buying it.
The Post quizzed several shoppers at the Food Universal supermarket in the Bronx's Co-op City, who told the paper that Gallagher's comments were downright ridiculous.
"It's foolish to think one should not be punished for stealing. It is a crime," said one shopper. "Mamdani can implement that in his [city-run grocery] stores, so if you don't have the necessities, you can go there and get them for free,"
"People are going to feel entitled because they know they can walk in and walk out and nothing will happen," said another shopper. "Allowing people to shoplift with no consequence is wrong. I'm a single mom and at one time I had four jobs. I would never think of stealing anything.
Anyone still dismissing the DSA as a fringe outfit with no real pull inside the Democrat Party need only look at the growing roster of newly elected socialists popping up nationwide, some already eyeing Congress. DSA-backed candidates toppled 15-term Rep. Diana DeGette in Denver and Rep. Shri Thanedar in Michigan this summer, and captured two safe blue New York House seats outright. Socialists Claire Valdez, Darializa Avila Chevalier, Melat Kiros and Donavan McKinney are now on track to join Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib in Washington come January. Over the weekend, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries even admitted the group is part of the party's "broad caucus."
Good luck with that.
Tyler Durden Tue, 08/18/2026 - 16:40