The City of Côte Saint-Luc stands in solidarity with the people of Boulder, Colorado, following an attack on June 1, 2025, when as assailant, screaming “Free Palestine”, threw incendiary devices at people attending the “Run for Their Lives” walk, an event meant to pressure Hamas to release the 59 hostages, of whom more than 20 are believed to be alive, and include Israelis, one Thai and one Nepali.
The attack in Boulder is part of a disturbing trend. On October 7, 2023, Hamas and other jihadist groups slaughtered more than a thousand Israelis, and 64 foreign nationals from 13 countries, and kidnapped hundreds more. Since then, antisemitic rhetoric across the world has escalated across the West. Slogans like “Globalize the Intifada” and “From the River to the Sea” have become normalized in protests.
The violent attack in Boulder follows the arson attack on the home of the Governor of Pennsylvania on April 16, 2025, and the gun murder of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. on May 21, 2025. On October 2, 2024, Molotov cocktails were planted beside a synagogue in Côte Saint-Luc and next to the Mayor’s backyard, which could also have injured and maimed our residents were it not for a Côte Saint-Luc Public Security agent, who noticed suspicious activity overnight and called the police.
For the past 18 months, the City of Côte Saint-Luc has been asking police to intervene when protestors use violent and hateful rhetoric, in any language. Recent attacks make clear that this is no longer just a matter of free speech. Slogans like “Free Palestine” are increasingly being used as rallying cries by assailants intent on violence—not only against property, but against people. We are witnessing the globalization of the “intifada revolution” and the manifestation of violent “jihad” on the streets of North America, including in our own communities.
When hateful and violent language is tolerated, it paves the way to terror and murder. We call on Mayor Valérie Plante, Premier François Legault, and Prime Minister Mark Carney to take immediate action—not only to shut down violent protests, but to ensure that individuals who incite violence through statements, chants, or banners promoting jihad or the globalization of the intifada are arrested and held accountable. This is essential to protecting the safety and security of all citizens.
We also call on members of the news media to look in the mirror and reflect on the impact of their reporting. Too often, coverage accepts Hamas statements at face value, neglecting basic journalistic standards of verification and balance. This not only misleads the public—it inflames tensions and fosters an environment in which Jews are blamed, dehumanized, and ultimately attacked.
The City of Côte Saint-Luc hopes for the speedy recovery of all those injured in Boulder. We also call on Hamas to release all hostages.