Kevin Youkilis calls out AOC over Boulder attack response

In the United States, a violent attack occurred in Boulder, Colorado, where a man ignited incendiary devices during a rally advocating for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. This incident took place on a Sunday just before the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, injuring at least eight individuals. Among those injured were elderly attendees, one of whom sustained critical injuries in the attack. The assailant, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, a 45-year-old Egyptian national, was arrested after the incident. Authorities identified Soliman, who was in the U.S. illegally after overstaying his visa, as someone who posed a significant threat during the attack. This violence was labeled as a 'targeted terror attack' by the FBI, highlighting the rising threats to Jewish communities amid an increase in antisemitic extremism across the country since 2020. Following the incident, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez expressed her condolences and emphasized the responsibility to confront antisemitism. However, her comments drew criticism from former MLB star Kevin Youkilis, who contended that her statement was merely 'virtue signaling' without any concrete action or plan to address the underlying issues of rising antisemitism. Youkilis questioned what Ocasio-Cortez had done to confront those calling for intifadas in New York City and implored her to take a more active stance against the radical elements within her political sphere. He urged that true leadership involves confronting radicalism instead of offering generalized responses after violent occurrences. Ocasio-Cortez's previous criticism of Israel, including her description of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a 'war criminal,' has also stirred controversy and may contribute to her opponents' calls for accountability in addressing antisemitism and violence against Jews.