By: Ariella Haviv

Former Major League Baseball star and World Series champion Kevin Youkilis has forcefully criticized Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) over her response to the firebombing attack on a Jewish solidarity gathering in Boulder, Colorado, which left a dozen people injured and sent shockwaves through Jewish communities across the country. The attack, perpetrated by Egyptian national Mohamed Sabry Soliman, occurred on the eve of Shavuot and specifically targeted attendees of a pro-Israel event held in support of the hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza since the October 7 massacre.

In the wake of the incident, Ocasio-Cortez issued a statement on social media expressing sympathy for the victims and denouncing antisemitism. “My heart is with the victims and our Jewish communities across the country,” she wrote in a post on X. “Antisemitism is on the rise here at home, and we have a moral responsibility to confront and stop it everywhere it exists.”

But her message was met with sharp criticism from Youkilis, who has become an increasingly outspoken advocate for Jewish causes and against antisemitism. As reported by The Algemeiner on Wednesday, Youkilis accused Ocasio-Cortez of engaging in “virtue signaling” and failing to confront the growing presence of antisemitic rhetoric and pro-terror slogans in her own district.

“Jews are targeted with violence and it’s the same virtue signal post time and time again,” Youkilis wrote in a direct response to Ocasio-Cortez’s message. “What have you done to confront those calling for intifadas in NYC? Until you create a plan of action, your repeated virtue signaling after the violence occurs holds no weight.”

The term “intifada” refers to periods of sustained Palestinian violence against Israeli civilians, including suicide bombings, shootings, and other attacks that claimed the lives of hundreds. As The Algemeiner has reported extensively in recent months, chants invoking “global intifada” and other incendiary rhetoric have become commonplace at anti-Israel rallies in New York City and across U.S. college campuses.

Youkilis further challenged the congresswoman’s record in the thread, telling supporters: “Prove me wrong and show what she has done to combat antisemitism in her district? You have no response because there has been zero action.” In another post, he added, “That would be brave leadership, but we know politicians, on both sides of the aisle, shy away in fear of losing votes and power.”

The comments come amid growing frustration within the Jewish community over what is seen as a lack of political courage in confronting antisemitic incitement—particularly from segments of the progressive movement that often frame anti-Zionist messaging as social justice activism. As The Algemeiner report highlighted, Jewish leaders and advocacy groups warn that the normalization of hostile slogans such as “From the river to the sea” and open calls for “intifada” pose a direct threat to Jewish safety and civil society.

Sunday night’s attack in Boulder has only intensified those concerns. According to federal court documents cited by The Algemeiner, Mohamed Sabry Soliman admitted to authorities that he threw Molotov cocktails and used a makeshift flamethrower on attendees because he wanted to “kill all Zionist people.” Among the injured were two elderly victims who remain hospitalized with severe burns. Soliman, 45, reportedly overstayed a tourist visa and had been living illegally in the U.S. since the expiration of a temporary work permit.

Federal officials have charged him with attempted murder, assault, and a federal hate crime. On Tuesday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained Soliman’s wife and five children for expedited removal proceedings—a move confirmed by the White House in a statement shared on X. According to the information provided in The Algemeiner report, the case has raised urgent questions about immigration enforcement, terrorism prevention, and the spread of extremist ideology on American soil.

Ocasio-Cortez, whose district includes parts of the Bronx and Queens, has previously faced criticism for her handling of antisemitism-related issues, including her reluctance to explicitly condemn antisemitic speech at protests and her opposition to key pro-Israel legislation in Congress. While her recent statement condemned antisemitism in general terms, critics like Youkilis argue that such declarations ring hollow without concrete action to challenge radical elements within her political base.

Youkilis, a Cincinnati native and former Boston Red Sox infielder, played a key role in the team’s historic 2004 World Series win—their first in 86 years. Since retiring from professional baseball, he has remained active in Jewish philanthropy and commentary, often using his platform to speak out against hatred and bigotry.

His rebuke of Ocasio-Cortez has drawn significant attention on social media, with many users echoing his concerns about performative outrage and the political hesitance to confront extremism in progressive circles. As The Algemeiner reported, Jewish Americans are increasingly demanding accountability from elected officials across the political spectrum—not just in words, but in action. With tensions still high following the Boulder attack and broader patterns of antisemitic violence surging nationwide, Youkilis’s message draws attention to a growing sentiment: that moral leadership must be measured not by post-crisis statements, but by the willingness to challenge dangerous ideologies before they erupt into violence.