Silence is sinful under the present circumstances. Political leaders and media figures have special obligations to call out bigotry.
Jewish
Posted inColoradans, Education, News
Students at Denver high school targeted by racist, antisemitic graffiti try to rally forward
Many George Washington High School students showed up for classes in pajamas Tuesday morning, not because they rushed to make the first bell but to reflect their school pride as part of homecoming week. But pajama day and the school spirit behind it was cut short as students and teachers turned their focus to healing […]
Posted inColoradans, News
The Denver metro area may be more religiously diverse than you think
The Denver metro area is religiously diverse and it’s becoming increasingly so. A new study by the Public Religion Research Institute – called the 2020 Census on American Religion – found that “religious diversity scores” for Adams, Arapahoe, Douglas, and Jefferson counties in 2020 were all above average when compared to the rest of the U.S. The array […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News
Man gets nearly 20 years in prison for plotting to bomb Pueblo synagogue
A man was sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison on Friday for plotting to bomb a historic Colorado synagogue last year by a judge who described the case as “dripping with Nazism and supremacy.” Judge Raymond P. Moore set the 235-month sentence for Richard Holzer, 28, and imposed a 15-year term of supervised release. […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News
Man described as neo-Nazi pleads guilty in Pueblo synagogue bomb plot
By Colleen Slevin, The Associated Press A man described by U.S. prosecutors as a neo-Nazi and white supremacist pleaded guilty on Thursday to a hate crime for plotting to bomb a historic Colorado synagogue last year. Richard Holzer, 28, pleaded guilty to attempting to stop people from exercising their religion with an explosive or fire […]
Posted inColoradans, News
Trinidad’s Temple Aaron seemed destined to die. But the 131-year-old Jewish synagogue’s fate was never sealed.
The Jewish people believe it is decided who will be inscribed in the “book of life” on Rosh Hashanah, the holiday that begins Friday night. The metaphorical document — called sefer hachaim in Hebrew — holds the names of who will survive. “Who shall live and who shall die?” a Jewish poem this time of […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News, Politics and Government
Colorado attorney general announces alliance to address hate crimes
By Colleen Slevin, The Associated Press Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser and members of a coalition fighting hate crimes said Monday they have teamed up to try to increase reporting of hate crimes and train law enforcement how to handle and prosecute such cases. Weiser was joined by representatives of the Anti-Defamation League, the Matthew […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News
Pueblo man arrested by federal agents wanted to blow up historic synagogue, court documents say
A 27-year-old Pueblo man with a history of voicing hatred toward Jews on social media was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of attempting to blow up a historic synagogue in the southern Colorado city — the second oldest in the state. An arrest warrant was issued for Richard Holzer on Saturday in a document […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News
Boulder man searched for Colorado synagogues and mosques, said he “wanted the white race to win,” search warrant says
A 29-year-old Boulder man investigated by federal authorities after making startling online posts was searching for mosque and synagogue locations in the Denver metro area and elsewhere in Colorado just days before he was arrested on unrelated charges of possessing hundreds of child-porn images. New details into Wesley Gilreath’s alleged activities were unveiled on Thursday […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: I learned a valuable life lesson at the barbershop. It takes courage to speak out against hatred.
I have a confession. Oftentimes, we are quick to superficially crown ourselves as upright, honorable and virtuous individuals. But when circumstance puts us to the test, we can’t help but question the true depth of our integrity. These junctures offer us opportunity to choose between fortifying our long-standing self-deception, or exchanging our artificial constructs with […]