LOS ANGELES.–Throwing Molotov cocktails into Jewish demonstrators in a Boulder, Co. pedestrian mall, calling for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, an unnamed suspect reportedly called the protesters “killers.” Following from the May 21 Washington, D.C. shooting of two young Israeli embassy employees outside the Capitol Jewish Museum, authorities suspect anti-Semitic terrorism as the motive. Pro-Palestine protests have spread across the country on college campuses and other venues following the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas massacre of 1,200 Israelis, taking another 251 hostage. While only 58 hostages remain held by Hamas in Gaza, only 20 are believed alive, prompting calls in Israel and elsewhere for the hostages release. Israel has been at war with Hamas in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, destroying the Gaza Strip, causing over 54,000 deaths according to Hamas officials.
Today’s incident in Boulder is another example of copycat anti-Semitic acts erupting around the country largely due to pro-Palestine protesters looking to stop the carnage in Gaza due to the ongoing war. Hamas rejected the latest truce proposal saying a temporary ceasefire did not go far enough for Hamas authorities. Despite having most of its senior leadership and militants killed over the last year-and-a-half, some Hamas leaders and militants remain holed up in Gaza’s military tunnels. “We are aware and fully investigating a targeted terror attack in Boulder Colorado,” wrote FBI Director Kash Patel on X. “Our agents and local law enforcement are on the scene already, and we will share updates as more information become available,” confirming what everyone suspected that Palestinian terrorism hit the Boulder area. FBI officials usually wait until a motive could be confirmed.
Colorado Atty. Gen. Phil Weiser said the attack looks like a “hate crime given the group that was targeted,” confirming the group meets weekly in downtown Boulder on the pedestrian mall to protest holding of Israeli hostages. “Hate has no place in Colorado,” Weiser said. “We all have the right to peaceably assemble and he freedom to speak our views. But these violent acts—which are becoming more frequent, brazen and closer to home—must stop and those who commit these horrific acts must be fully held to account,” Weiser said. Weiser recalls the April 13 Passover firebombing of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s governor mansion in Harrisburg, Pa. Pennsylvania authorities have not yet charged suspect Cody Balmer with a hate crime but his motive was obvious. Setting protesters on fire in Boulder was yet another despicable act of anti-Semitic terrorism occurring around the country.
Boulder police indicated they have the suspect in custody, taken initially to a local hospital for minor wounds. Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said there were a range of injuries including burns at the scene, ranging in severity from minor to serious. Redfearn said the entire pedestrian area has been shut out of caution, no knowing whether the crime scene was fully secure. “This area is not safe yet. We’re dealing with a vehicle of interest,” Redfearn said at a news conference. “We’re dealing with a large area that we are making sure it’s safe before we allow people to come back into the scene,” said the chief. Jewish Federation officials confirmed that eyewitnesses heard the suspect saying, “How many children have you killed?’ We need to end Zionists,’” said an anti-Defamation League official. What do American Jews have to do with events in Israel?
Palestinian protesters all of the country, including Columbian University Palestine protester Mahmoud Kahlil, currently held in an ICE facility in Louisiana, made campus life intolerable for Jewish students. Palestinian protesters on college campuses don’t understand that they can’t take their fury out on American Jewish students. Jewish students at Columbia said they could not longer go to classes without being harassed on campus. Columbia administration was remiss in protecting anti-Semitic protests on campus, prompting the resignation of Columbia president, Egyptian-born Minouche Shafik Aug. 14, 2024. Trump officials have made clear that any university that doesn’t protect Jewish students is in breach of federal anti-terrorism laws and other federal statutes. Khalil currently argues his free speech rights were violated by federal authorities.
Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi must prosecute cases of anti-Semitic hate as crimes of special circumstance, warranting the full weight of federal law. Pro-Palestine protesters must be served notice that they will be dealt with harshly by the federal government especially Immigration, Customs Enforcement [ICE] for deportation around the country. Whether issued student visas or even green cards doesn’t mean foreigners cannot follow federal laws when it comes to hate speech and discrimination. Foreigners have limited Free Speech rights, not the right to intimidate, infringe or trample on the rights of Jewish students, like Kahlil did at Columbia. Whatever Israel does to prosecute a war halfway around the world is not the responsibility of U.S. citizens who practice the Jewish faith. Khalil and other pro-Palestine zealots don’t realize that U.S. citizens are not responsible for Israel.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
