Colorado’s Jewish state lawmakers decry antisemitism in Boulder attack: ‘We must confront hate forcefully’

A bipartisan group of Jewish state lawmakers on Monday called for our allies to speak out against the antisemitic violence on display in the fire attack on Boulder s Pearl Street Mall and other fresh incidents I m extremely upset and frustrated that our locality is continuously under attack Rep Ron Weinberg a Loveland Republican reported in an interview He joined a comment issued by a half-dozen lawmakers as officials charged Mohamed Sabry Soliman with a federal hate crime The FBI commented he shouted Free Palestine during the attack on marchers in a weekly event calling for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza Twelve people were injured after Soliman threw two lit Molotov cocktails and used a makeshift flamethrower law enforcement officers declared The lawmakers comment says the Jewish region is strong and deeply rooted in our state s history adding that certain of the legislators have participated in past events organized by Run for Their Lives which put together Sunday s demonstration It was also signed by five Democrats Sens Dafna Michaelson Jenet of Commerce City Mike Weissman of Aurora and Matt Ball of Denver and Reps Emily Sirota and Steven Woodrow of Denver As we mourn the casualties of the previous day s attack in Boulder we ask our allies to speak out the lawmakers declared Whether publicly or privately and regardless of views on the conflict in the Middle East we must confront hate forcefully before it becomes normalized The rising tide of antisemitic attacks doesn t just threaten Jews It threatens the very fabric of what makes America worth believing in We should all be outraged to live in a country where this is happening and determined to change it The lawmakers referenced two other attacks the fatal shooting of two staffers from the Israeli Embassy outside a Jewish museum in Washington D C last month and a fire set at the Pennsylvania governor s mansion in April apparently targeting Gov Josh Shapiro What the targets all had in common was that they were Jewish the lawmakers announcement says of those incidents and the Boulder attack We have a name for this antisemitism Related Articles Antisemitic terror attack on Boulder s Pearl Street Mall planned for a year FBI says new casualties uncovered What we know about the Pearl Street Mall attack in Boulder people set on fire in targeted act of violence on Boulder s Pearl Street Mall Weinberg in the interview mentioned he s grieving for the people who were attacked in Boulder and will do what he can for the Jewish neighborhood across the state He also expressed frustration that the man suspected to be responsible was an Egyptian citizen living in Colorado illegally after overstaying his tourist visa Weinberg is opposed to Colorado law aimed at protecting undocumented immigrants and urged people to pay attention in their elections Weinberg expressed worry that Sunday s act would introduce fear back into Jewish communities across Colorado We need to be outspoken about how wrong this stuff is Weinberg stated Stay up-to-date with Colorado Politics by signing up for our weekly newsletter The Spot