Colorado Leaders Holding Virtual Event In Wake Of Colleyville

Denver CO

18 January, 2022

3:07 PM

Description

DENVER, CO —In response to Saturday's hostage incident at a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, community, government and faith leaders in Colorado will be taking part in a virtual event Tuesday called "Responding to Antisemitism: An Interfaith Call to Action." The public is invited to attend. The event will take place from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and several speakers will participate, including: Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, State Rep. Iman Jodeh, representatives from the Downtown Denver Islamic Center, Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen and Scott Levin, regional director the Anti-Defamation League's (ADL) Mountain States Region This discussion comes just three days after an armed man held four hostages — three of them for more than 10 hours — during a service at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville. The hostages eventually escaped. Two of them —Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker and Jeffrey R. Cohen —described their escape on television and social media on Monday. Authorities killed the hostage-taker, whom the Associated Press identified as 44-year-old British national Malik Faisal Akram. According to AP, Akram could be heard ranting on a Facebook livestream of the services and demanding the release of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist suspected of having ties to al-Qaida who was convicted of trying to kill U.S. Army officers in Afghanistan. "This attack against a sacred community in the middle of such services should be of importance to all people," said the ADL's Levin. "It is a bedrock principle that all of us, no matter our religion, should be allowed to pray free from fear. Antisemitism has reached a high-water mark in the United States. The entire country should be alarmed when there is violence at any worship space." Other members of the Jewish community in Colorado expressed their solidarity with the victims held Colleyville, while thanking law enforcement for the role it played in the escape. "We are also filled with gratitude for the over 200 law enforcement professionals and multiple agencies that worked together to resolve the hostage situation and maintained consistent communication with our partners at SCN (Secure Community Network), an affiliate of the Jewish Federations of North America which monitors, advises, and supports the safety and security of Jewish institutions," said Jonathan Lev, executive director of Boulder JCC Lev added: "Over the last year, our community has experienced multiple tragedies. Learning of tragedies at home and across the country has weighed heavily on my heart, and I know for many of you as well. The JCC is here for you, for our community, as we support one another." Tuesday night's interfaith event, which is sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League, JEWISHcolorado, and Rocky Mountain Rabbis and Cantors will be livestreamed on JEWISHcolorado.org, Facebook and YouTube.