Following a violent attack at Boulder's "Run for Their Lives" event, prominent Colorado senators have publicly expressed their anguish and condemnation, offering their condolences to the victims and the Jewish community. Senate President James Coleman lamented the horrific events, underscoring the state's imperative to foster peace and ensure safety for all communities. "My prayers are with the victims, Boulder, and Colorado’s Jewish community following today’s horrific, violent attack at the Run for Their Lives event," Coleman stated, as reported by Colorado Senate Democrats. He emphasized that hate and violence have no place in Colorado or anywhere.
Senator Dafna Michaelson Jenet, with her ties as an Israeli-born, American Jewish woman, expressed devastation over the assault on what she described as a weekly peaceful assembly. "This event is a weekly peaceful gathering of Israeli and American Jewish families working to bring attention to the hostages who are still being held in Gaza for almost two years following the massacre of the Israeli people on October 7th, 2023," Michaelson Jenet explained, as per Colorado Senate Democrats, her comments reflecting a palpable fear within Jewish communities statewide. The attack's timing, just as Shavuot approaches, struck a chord within the Jewish Diaspora, exposing the vulnerability even within America's supposed haven.
Senator Judy Amabile, representing Boulder, echoed her colleagues' sentiments, focusing on the need for unity against divisiveness and hostility. In her words, "Divisive, hateful rhetoric must stop." She stressed the collective responsibility to advocate for peace and security through words and actions. Amabile's statement, a poignant reflection of a community stricken yet resilient, underscores Boulder's determination to stand united in defiance of violence.
