MEQUON, Wis. — The state of Colorado is still recovering following an anti-Semitic attack in Boulder on Sunday.
Mohamed Sabry Soliman faces a federal hate crime charge as well as multiple state felony charges, including 16 counts of attempted murder.
At least 12 people were injured when Soliman allegedly used a flamethrower and molotov cocktails to set people on fire at an event in support of the hostages in Gaza.
According to an affidavit, he told investigators that he "wanted to kill all Zionist people."
Soliman, who made his initial court appearance on Monday, will return to court Thursday for the filing of the state charges.
This attack has sparked worry for many groups across the country including the Milwaukee area. The “Run for their Lives” groups have over 250 across the world.
The Milwaukee area chapter said they plan to continue their mission of walking each week until the hostages are returned.
Heather Berken is the local organizer in the Milwaukee area. She said she was in shock to hear what happened in Colorado this past weekend.
“I just didn’t think that something like that was really possible,” Heather Berken said. “I didn’t. My whole life I’ve been Jewish, and a proud Jew. I’ve never believed this would be the reality of being a Jew in America.”
Berken said since Jan. 2024, their group has been meeting every Sunday to walk in honor of the Israeli hostages.
Their group was walking this past Sunday when the attack in Colorado happened.
Berken said she’s spoken to the organizer of the Boulder group in the past to connect on posters and messaging for their groups. She said she was shocked to hear what they experienced.
Berken said now many of the chats with leaders from over 250 of these groups worldwide have shifted following the attack. They are now focusing on how to be safe amid last Sunday’s attack.
“Now, I look at the thread and it’s about making sure you have an escape route, talking about how to manage burn care,” she said. “How to teach your members about burn care, if we are going to have armed security. People are ordering tourniquets on Amazon.”
While many in the area are still shaken by what occurred this past weekend, Berken said they all agreed that they will walk this Sunday, like usual.
They hope to coordinate with local police to ensure they are safe on their route.
“If Boulder, Colorado can experience what they did this past Sunday and show up next week, Milwaukee, Wisconsin can,” Berken said.
