Barbara Steinmetz: A Holocaust Survivor's Call for Kindness and Unity in America
A Holocaust survivor, Barbara Steinmetz, was attacked during a peaceful demonstration in Boulder, Colorado. She emphasized that the attack was not related to the Holocaust but was an act of violence by an individual. Steinmetz urged Americans to be kind and respectful to each other, emphasizing that as Americans, they are better than such violence. The attack, allegedly carried out by Mohamed Sabry Soliman, left Steinmetz and others injured, with minor burns. Rabbi Marc Soloway expressed concern about the trauma the attack may have triggered for Steinmetz, who escaped the Holocaust. Steinmetz's childhood was marked by fleeing from persecution, eventually finding refuge in the Dominican Republic. The attacker, Soliman, has been charged with attempted murder and a hate crime. The incident occurred amid ongoing tensions related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with the attackers shouting "Free Palestine" during the assaults. Steinmetz's message to America is a call for kindness and decency among people, emphasizing that they should treat each other with respect and compassion.