A former MLB star accused US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) of “virtue signaling” over her response to the attack on Jewish protesters in Colorado.
Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X that she was “horrified” by the firebombing, adding: “My heart is with the victims and our Jewish communities across the country.
“Antisemitism is on the rise here at home, and we have a moral responsibility to confront and stop it everywhere it exists.”
But World Series champ Kevin Youkilis found her words hollow, and slammed the lawmaker for failing to speak out against the same antisemitism running rampant in New York City.
“Jews are targeted with violence and it’s the same virtue signal post time and time again,” he wrote on X.
“What have you done to confront those calling for intifadas in NYC? Until you create a plan of action, your repeated virtue signaling after the violence occurs holds no weight,” he added.
“Confront the radical mobs chanting for intifadas in NYC,” the former Boston Red Sox and New York Yankee player continued. “That would be brave leadership, but we know politicians, on both sides of the aisle, shy away in fear of losing votes and power.”
Antisemitic incidents have been on the rise in New York City since the start of the war in Gaza in 2023, with Manhattan seeing repeated anti-Israel protests that have spread across the nation.
Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, was shouting “Free Palestine” when he used a homemade flamethrower and Molotov cocktails to attack a group of Israeli protesters marching in Colorado in solidarity with the hostages in Gaza on Sunday.
Soliman, an Egyptian national, was allegedly waiting shirtless and with his weapons in hand as the group arrived at one of their scheduled stops during the walk.
Eight victims — four men and four women between the ages of 52 and 88 — were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Soliman appeared in court on Monday and was charged with federal hate crimes and 16 counts of attempted first-degree murder. He faces up to 624 years behind bars if convicted.
The Department of Homeland Security is working alongside the FBI to investigate the “terrorist attack,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed.
