On June 1, 2025, a violent and chilling antisemitic attack unfolded at an outdoor mall in Boulder, Colorado, leaving a dozen people injured and rattling communities nationwide. Mohamed Sabry Soliman, a 45-year-old Egyptian national, allegedly launched a fiery assault on demonstrators advocating for the release of Hamas’ Israeli hostages. Armed with a homemade flamethrower and Molotov cocktails, Soliman targeted Israeli protesters, shouting "Free Palestine" as he carried out the attack. The victims, ranging in age from 52 to 88, were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.
The attack, which the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is officially investigating as a hate crime, has sparked a fierce public debate about rising antisemitism in the United States, particularly in New York City, where tensions have been escalating since the Israel-Hamas conflict intensified in 2023.
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a prominent New York Democrat, expressed her horror and solidarity with the victims and Jewish communities across the country. Writing on her X account, formerly known as Twitter, she stated, "My heart is with the victims and our Jewish communities across the country. Antisemitism is on the rise here at home, and we have a moral responsibility to confront and stop it everywhere it exists." Ocasio-Cortez was also seen participating in the New Queens Pride Parade in Queens on the same day, demonstrating her active engagement in community events.
However, her response drew sharp criticism from former Major League Baseball star Kevin Youkilis, a two-time World Series champion with the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. Youkilis, who is Jewish and has served as Team Israel’s hitting coach during the 2023 World Baseball Classic, accused Ocasio-Cortez of "virtue signaling"—publicly condemning the attack without taking meaningful action to address the root causes of rising antisemitism.
"Jews are targeted with violence and it’s the same virtue signal post time and time again," Youkilis wrote on X. He challenged the congresswoman directly: "What have you done to confront those calling for intifadas in NYC? Until you create a plan of action, your repeated virtue signaling after the violence occurs holds no weight." He urged her to "Confront the radical mobs chanting for intifadas in NYC," describing such leadership as brave but lamenting that "politicians, on both sides of the aisle, shy away in fear of losing votes and power."
The term "intifada" refers to Palestinian uprisings against Israeli occupation and has become a flashpoint in the discourse surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict. Pro-Palestinian protests in New York City have reportedly included chants of "long live intifada," which many consider inherently antisemitic when used as a rallying cry. Youkilis’s criticism reflects a broader concern about extremist rhetoric fueling violence against Jewish communities.
Mohamed Sabry Soliman’s motivations were made clear in an FBI affidavit, which revealed that he had planned the attack for a year with the intent to "kill all Zionist people." Soliman entered the United States illegally during the Biden administration but was granted temporary status and work permits. He now faces federal hate crime charges and 16 counts of attempted first-degree murder, which could result in a prison sentence of up to 624 years if convicted.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that DHS is working alongside the FBI to investigate the attack, officially labeling it a terrorist act. The gravity of the incident has caught the attention of national political figures, including former President Donald Trump, who declared on June 2, 2025, that terrorism "WILL NOT BE TOLERATED" in the United States following the Boulder attack.
The attack in Boulder is part of a disturbing trend of escalating antisemitic incidents in the U.S., particularly in New York City, where protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict have become increasingly frequent and volatile since the war began in 2023. Manhattan has witnessed repeated anti-Israel demonstrations, some of which have included calls for violent uprisings.
The Israel-Hamas conflict itself has been devastating, with approximately 60,000 deaths reported on both sides since October 2023, according to multiple sources. The Gaza Health Ministry reports that over 95 percent of those killed are Palestinian. The war has also triggered a humanitarian crisis, displacing nearly 2 million people and causing a hunger emergency in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced accusations of deliberately starving Palestinians in Gaza, allegations he denies.
In the United States, political responses to the conflict have been deeply polarized. Since returning to office in January 2025, President Donald Trump has taken a hardline stance against perceived Palestinian sympathizers, threatening to revoke funding for colleges and university visas for international students suspected of supporting Hamas. Approximately 800 students had their visas revoked under this policy, though some have had their statuses restored by courts.
Kevin Youkilis, known as the "Greek God of Walks" for his exceptional plate discipline, is not just a former athlete but also a vocal advocate for Israel and Jewish communities. He famously refused to play on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Hebrew calendar, leading to a game rescheduling in 2012. His baseball career includes a Gold Glove award in 2007 for a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage and significant contributions to the Red Sox's World Series championship that same year. Beyond sports, Youkilis is also connected to NFL legend Tom Brady, having married Brady’s sister Julie in 2012.
The public clash between Youkilis and Ocasio-Cortez highlights the intense debate over how best to confront antisemitism and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the United States. While Ocasio-Cortez emphasizes moral responsibility and condemnation, Youkilis calls for concrete action against extremist rhetoric and violence, particularly in New York City.
As investigations continue into the Boulder attack and tensions remain high across the country, the challenge of addressing antisemitism and fostering community safety is more urgent than ever. The incident serves as a grim reminder of the real-world consequences of political and social divisions, and the need for leadership willing to face these challenges head-on.
