Run for Their Lives Walks Expand After Boulder Molotov Attack

The Run for Their Lives group, advocating for the release of hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel, has faced a recent Molotov cocktail attack in Boulder, Colorado, that injured 15 people. Despite the violence and threats from the attacker, who expressed antisemitic sentiments, the group has continued its weekly walks with increased participation and security, including police escorts and visible armed protection. The June 8 walk in Boulder drew hundreds, including political figures like Senator John Hickenlooper, and coincided with the city's Jewish Festival, which saw its largest attendance ever amid enhanced law enforcement presence. Other chapters across the U.S. and globally have reported surges in attendance, with some increasing tenfold, reflecting a defiant response to attempts to intimidate the movement. The walks serve as peaceful, quiet demonstrations focused solely on raising awareness for the hostages and maintaining public memory of their captivity. Organizers and participants, including Holocaust survivors and families of hostages, remain committed to continuing the walks until all hostages are freed.