Boulder Pro-Israel Group Harassed After Deadly Firebombing, Forced Underground
After surviving a deadly firebombing in June 2025, Boulder’s Run For Their Lives group, advocating for Israeli hostages, has moved its marches to secret locations due to ongoing harassment from counterprotesters, including a city council candidate.
In Boulder, Colorado, the pro-Israel group Run For Their Lives, which holds weekly marches to raise awareness for Israeli hostages held by Hamas, has been forced to relocate its events to secret locations due to relentless harassment. The group, still reeling from a June 1, 2025, firebombing attack by Mohamed Sabry Soliman that killed 82-year-old Karen Diamond and injured 15 others, now faces intensified intimidation from local counterprotesters, including Boulder City Council candidate Aaron Stone. “Here we are in Boulder where someone was killed and a bunch of people were burned, and we have people following our walk and screaming at us,” said participant Aaron Brooks.
The harassment includes anti-Semitic slurs, with Stone caught on video calling group leader Rachel Amaru a “Nazi.” In an August 17 YouTube video, Stone boasted that his anti-Israel platform drove his candidacy. While he later condemned the June attack in an email, he accused the group of “supporting genocide” and claimed they “deserve to be called Nazis.” Another participant, Elise, said, “First they survived the June attack and now they’re dealing with these aggressive counterprotesting jihadists tormenting them. It’s mentally very difficult. These people are morally hollow.”
The group’s decision to go underground follows threats, including references to organizers’ children and slurs like “genocidal c–t” and “racist.” Amaru, personally targeted, vowed resilience: “We will continue to walk peacefully for the hostages.” Brooks added, “In the aftermath of the attack, we have been harassed and this decision is about safety for the group. We want to walk for the hostages without being harassed.” He emphasized, “They want to harass and intimidate us. We’re not hiding and we’re not afraid, we’re just being smart.”
Local Jewish leaders condemned the hostility. Miri Kornfeld, Run For Their Lives Denver leader, said, “Now, instead of receiving support, they’re being harassed again, even by a candidate for Boulder City Council. This is a chilling reminder of the hatred they’ve endured and the urgent need to stand with them against antisemitism.” The Jewish Community Relations Council noted that the group’s marches, held weekly since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, will now occur under heavy security at undisclosed locations to ensure safety.