DistantNews
Support us
🇮🇱 Israel /Culture & Society

In Colorado, AP serves as definitive sanitizer of antisemitism - opinion

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Opinion Named sources Context piece
  • The Associated Press is criticized for sanitizing antisemitism by omitting key details about a Democratic congressional candidate's refusal to label a deadly firebomb attack as antisemitic.
  • The article argues that the AP's coverage ignored condemnations from the candidate's own progressive peers and the broader political consensus that the attack was an anti-Jewish hate crime.
  • The author contends that by omitting this context, the AP downplayed the candidate's controversial stance and failed to provide a complete picture of the event and its implications.

The Associated Press (AP) is accused of sanitizing antisemitism through its coverage of a Democratic congressional candidate's primary victory, by omitting crucial context about her refusal to label a deadly firebomb attack as antisemitic. The article argues that this omission downplays the severity of the attack and the candidate's controversial stance.

A person is dead. A family is shattered; multiple families are shattered. And a community is devastated.

— State Sen. Julie GonzalesResponding to Melat Kiros's refusal to label the Boulder firebomb attack as antisemitic.

Aspiring Colorado House representative Melat Kiros declined to call the June 27, 2025, firebombing of a Boulder Jewish community center, which killed 82-year-old Karen Diamond, an antisemitic act. State Sen. Julie Gonzales criticized Kiros's response, stating it "missed a moment and an opportunity to talk about what it takes to heal." The perpetrator, Mohamed Soliman, reportedly shouted "Free Palestine" during the attack and had openly stated his intention to target a "Zionist group."

To respond in a manner that says ‘well, I don’t know what was in that perpetrator’s heart,’ I think missed a moment and an opportunity to talk about what it takes to heal in the midst of just exceptional pain and violence.

— State Sen. Julie GonzalesCritique of Melat Kiros's response to the Boulder firebombing.

Jessie Bedayn's AP story on Kiros's primary win reportedly remained silent on her refusal to condemn the attack as antisemitic, despite condemnations from several of Kiros's progressive peers. State Rep. Yara Zoakaie, who endorsed Kiros, expressed disappointment, calling the attack "an antisemitic attack and a horrific act of violence that all leaders should condemn." David Seligman, a progressive candidate for attorney general, also stated, "I think it was wrong of her."

I was very disappointed in her answer to that question. The answer is obvious that the attack on Jewish people in Boulder was an antisemitic attack and a horrific act of violence that all leaders should condemn.

— State Rep. Yara ZoakaieExpressing disappointment with Melat Kiros's stance on the Boulder firebombing.

The article points out that even the House overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan resolution condemning the attack as antisemitic, with only a few lawmakers voting present. Colorado Governor nominee Phil Weiser also criticized Kiros's stance. The author contends that by omitting these details, the AP failed in its role as a "definitive source for independent journalism" and instead acted as a "definitive sanitizer of global antisemitism," concealing information that would provide a more complete understanding of the candidate's position and the nature of the attack.

Jewish lives matter... You don’t put a comma, an and, or a but. Period. That’s the message.

— Phil WeiserColorado governor nominee Phil Weiser's statement on the importance of condemning antisemitic attacks.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog