Socialist Colorado congressional candidate Melat Kiros stated that Israel's military actions in the Middle East are putting Jewish people in danger and inspiring attacks against them in other countries. Kiros, who won her Democratic primary this week in a Denver-area district, made these remarks during an interview on Wednesday.
"We are seeing that the actions of Israel are putting Jewish people in great danger," Kiros said. "And the hate and the antisemitism that’s rising as a result of it is one that I have every intention of prioritizing and combating."
Kiros is among a group of progressive candidates with anti-Israel stances gaining traction within the Democratic Party. Her primary victory followed similar successes by far-left candidates in New York last month.
Colorado Attorney General and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Weiser had previously expressed concerns about Kiros's comments. A 9News host brought up Weiser's reservations to Kiros, specifically referencing a deadly attack on a pro-Israel rally in Boulder last year and asking if it could be described as antisemitic.
"I just spoke with Attorney General Phil Weiser... He has some real concerns about things that you have said about Israel and, in particular, about the firebombing of Jewish people in Boulder," the host noted, asking if Kiros was open to a conversation with Weiser. Kiros responded affirmatively, expressing her desire to work together to combat hate.
Regarding the Boulder incident, Kiros stated, "what happened in Boulder was a horrific attack on a group of Jewish people that were peacefully protesting." She added that she did not know the perpetrator's motivations but suggested that the attack occurred because of the actions of Israel.
Kiros also commented on the Boulder attacker, Mohamed Soliman, saying, "I don’t know what was in the heart of the perpetrator. All I know is that he went and attacked innocent people because of what they might have believed, and I don’t even know what the people that were at that protest believed, too."
The attack in Boulder took place on June 1, 2025, when Soliman, disguised as a gardener, threw two flaming projectiles at pro-Israel demonstrators. The attack resulted in the death of 82-year-old Karen Diamond and injured about a dozen others. Soliman pleaded guilty in May to state charges, including murder, and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. He reportedly expressed regret and denied being motivated by hatred of Jews, but he did criticize Zionism.
Opposition to Israel's policies was a central theme of Kiros's primary campaign. In her victory speech, she identified ending the "genocide in Palestine" as one of her primary goals.