As long as there are Israelis and others held captive in Gaza, Baltimore Walks for the Hostages will carry on with its mission, says Jay Bernstein, organizer of the weekly marches.
“Our motto is, ‘Until the last hostage is home,’” said Bernstein. “The longer it takes, the more important this whole thing is.”
Last Sunday morning, June 1, the 1-kilometer walk – which has started and ended at Har Sinai-Oheb Shalom Congregation, 7310 Park Heights Avenue, since early 2024 – was held before an attack was perpetrated at a similar gathering in Boulder, Colorado.
An Egyptian national threw a pair of Molotov cocktails at that march and yelled, “Free Palestine!” Local authorities said 12 people were injured, with two people remaining hospitalized. One of the injured was an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor.
The suspect was charged with a federal hate crime and 16 counts of attempted murder. His wife and five children were arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and are facing “expedited removal” from the United States.
Bernstein said Run for their Lives, the umbrella group that organizes events advocating the release of the hostages, instructed local chapters and affiliates to suspend their marches last Sunday in light of the Boulder tragedy and due to security concerns. The advisement came after the Baltimore walk was held.
He said the global organization determined this week that local groups can decide if they want to continue holding marches and events.
“To me, we have to continue,” Bernstein said. “But we’ll definitely be taking steps we haven’t done before.”
He said increased security and surveillance will be provided at this Sunday’s march, which will be held at HSOSC.
In the past, the local marches – which generally attract approximately 50 participants – have not experienced any security concerns or even hecklers, Bernstein said.
“But now, we will be even more aware and vigilant,” he said. “It’s crazy, but for me what this means is we’ve got to be even more careful and do what we have to do. That’s the world we’re living in.”
Bernstein said he is optimistic that more people will attend this Sunday’s march out of solidarity with the Boulder victims and the hostages still held by Hamas.
“We’re urging people to come out and make a statement,” he said.
In an email sent out June 5 to the community, the Baltimore Jewish Council wrote, “After the antisemitic attack on this past week’s March for the Hostages in Boulder, Colorado, it’s time for our Baltimore community to show that we will not be intimidated by fear or hate. We urge you to join us on Sunday, June 8, at 9 a.m., for Baltimore’s weekly March for the Hostages. The march gathers at Har Sinai-Oheb Shalom, 7310 Park Heights Avenue. Rain or shine.”
The number of hostages in Gaza is 56, of whom 20 are thought to be alive, according to the JTA global Jewish news source.
For information, visit run4lives.org or chat.whatsapp.com/GS1Zb68kRu7B4J1CDEzXre.
A committed philanthropist and community leader, Russel was president of R&H Motors.
The mother of four was a native of Winchester, Virginia, who spent most of her life in Northwest Baltimore.
The Columbia resident worked on the Gemini and Apollo space missions.
A St. Louis native, Edelman served as ambassador to the central African nation from 1987 to 1989.