Melat Kiros drew criticism from three Colorado progressive leaders after she declined in a recent interview to call the June 1, 2025 Boulder firebombing attack antisemitic days before the 1st Congressional District primary election. The dispute now sits alongside her challenge to Diana DeGette, as Kiros appears to be on the cusp of unseating the 30-year incumbent.
Melat Kiros on 9News
In her interview with 9News, Kiros said, "I don’t know what was in the heart of the perpetrator" and added, "All I know is that he went and attacked innocent people because of what they might have believed." She also said, "I don’t even know what the people that were at that protest believed, too," then noted, "In fact, most of them were just there to ask that the people who were kidnapped during Oct. 7 be returned home to their families."
The Boulder demonstrators were predominantly Jewish, and the attack came during a rally tied to the hostages taken in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel. Mohamed Sabry Soliman is serving a life sentence after being convicted of carrying out the assault, which he carried out with a makeshift flamethrower and homemade bombs while yelling "Free Palestine!"
Julie Gonzales and Yara Zokaie
State Sen. Julie Gonzales said Kiros missed a chance to help the community heal. Gonzales said, "A person is dead. A family is shattered — multiple families are shattered. And a community is devastated," and added, "To respond in a manner that says ‘well, I don’t know what was in the 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. I would have answered differently."
State Rep. Yara Zokaie, who endorsed Kiros, still said the attack in Boulder was antisemitic and a horrific act of violence. She said, "I was very disappointed in her answer to that question," and added, "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."
David Seligman and Karen Diamond
David Seligman also criticized Kiros. He said, "I think it was wrong of her to answer the question that way," and added, "I agree with Melat on many things — and also it was wrong of her to answer the question that way."
The June 1 attack killed Karen Diamond, who was 82 when she died from injuries she suffered. With the primary days away, the criticism gives voters a sharper choice: Kiros has kept her framing narrow, while Gonzales, Zokaie and Seligman all treated the attack as antisemitic. Whether she changes that language before voters cast ballots is the open question hanging over the final stretch.
