The pastor of a Baptist church located just blocks from a violent attack on Jews last Sunday told his congregation, “We must not conflate Jewish people or Judaism with the Israeli government, though we can and should condemn antisemitism and condemn the erasure of Palestinians in the same breath.”
This is not the first time terrorism has struck near Pine Street Baptist Church in Boulder, where Andrew Daugherty serves as pastor. In 2021, a gunman wielding an automated assault-style weapon killed 10 people at a King Soopers grocery store located less than a 10-minute drive from the church, which is affiliated with the American Baptist Churches in the USA.
Andrew Daugherty
On Sunday, an Egyptian national allegedly used a flamethrower and Molotov cocktails to set people on fire at an event in support of hostages in Gaza. He injured at least 12 people. The attack took place just blocks from the Baptist church.
As he did in 2021, Daughtery used a video message to speak with his congregation and the community about the dreadful events.
“Today I want to take a moment to speak from my heart about the horrific and brutal act of antisemitic violence that occurred this past Sunday afternoon on Pearl Street Mall just a few blocks from our church,” he began.
“Like you, I’m sure, it grieves me deeply to hear about the hateful attack that targeted our innocent Jewish neighbors peacefully protesting. Our hearts are heavy with sorrow, anger, sadness and concern about what this means in Boulder and beyond, going forward.
“This kind of violence only begets more violence. This is not the way of peace.”
“To be clear, nonviolent Jewish Americans protested as they’ve done for the last year and a half just to demand the release of hostages held by Hamas — men, women, children who have been subjected to torture and death. It is important to say there are many Jews who March regularly in support of Palestinians, too, about the Gazans who have been killed and children starved during a brutal war. We must not conflate Jewish people or Judaism with the Israeli government, though we can and should condemn antisemitism and condemn the erasure of Palestinians in the same breath.
“But this kind of violence only begets more violence,” the pastor said. “This is not the way of peace. This is not the way of love. It is still true that we can’t be champions for justice and liberation for some people and not be champions for justice and liberation for all people made in the image of God.
“I know we are shaken we are sad, we are mad, we feel vulnerable and violated for our Jewish neighbors and siblings here in Boulder. All these emotions are 100% valid.”
The Baptist church participated in a community prayer vigil Wednesday night, June 4.
“For now, we sit with our broken hearts where our Jewish neighbors in Boulder and the 12 who were targeted with firebombs and hate, including an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor,” Daugherty said. “We pray for all people and families hurt by this heinous and horrific act.”
Mohamed Sabry Soliman reportedly yelled, “Free Palestine!” as he used incendiary devices to set people on fire during the Jewish community event. He is being held in jail on a $10 million cash bond.
Soliman could face 384 years in state prison if convicted on 16 counts of attempted murder in the first degree, according to Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty. He also faces a federal hate crime charge, which carries the maximum sentence of life in prison.
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‘This is a time of moral and social reckoning,’ Boulder pastor tells congregation