BOULDER, Colorado (SDJW) –Firebombing victim Karen Diamond, 81, succumbed Wednesday, June 25, to injuries sustained June 1 when Molotov cocktails were hurled at her and fellow ‘Run For Their Lives” protesters who marched to call attention to the plight of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
Rabbi Marc Soloway, spiritual leader of Congregation Bonai Shalom, announced her death in an obituary, listing survivors as her husband, two sons, two daughters-in-law and five grandsons.
“Karen was a cherished member of our community, someone whose warmth and generosity left a lasting impact on al who knew her,” Jonathan Lev and David Paul, respectively the executive director and board chair of the Boulder Jewish Community Center commented on Monday, June 30.
Ted Deutch, national CEO of the American Jewish Committee, commented: “Karen went to a peaceful rally in Boulder to call for the hostages to come home. A terrorist set her on fire and screamed ‘End Zionists! Words matter. Dangerous antisemitic rhetoric leads to dead Jews. We must come together to condemn it and reject antisemitism.”
Jonathan Greenblatt, the Anti-Defamation League’s CEO, said in a statement: “This heinous attack, which came just a week after the fatal shooting of a young couple in Washington, demonstrates the urgent need for elected officials and community leaders to take immediate action to stop antisemitism.
Twenty-nine peaceful demonstrators were the targets of Molotov cocktails allegedly thrown by Egyptian national Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, who was arrested at the scene. Thirteen demonstrators suffered physical injuries and at least one remains hospitalized.
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San Diego Jewish World staff report
Time for me to stop, and say a prayer for the people who step up-to-the-plate and do something, rather than think something….and in doing so, are rewarded with an act of violence…a physical injury. A sad staement of the times we are living in. May those brave souls be applauded and praised for their outspoken bravery.