Colorado will provide $250,000 in safety grants for locations at elevated threat of assault, equivalent to synagogues, mosques and locations of worship, Gov. Jared Polis introduced Monday.
The brand new grant follows the June 1 firebomb assault in Boulder on a gaggle of individuals marching in help of Israeli hostages. The grant’s announcement additionally fell on the day that one of many firebombing victims, Karen Diamond, died.
“Sadly, as antisemitism and different types of hate and situations of violence are on the rise, we all know that our locations of worship, non secular colleges, and different locations of gathering in communities face elevated threat,” Polis stated in an announcement. “This extra help will assist be sure that upgrades are made to extend security.”
The brand new cash builds on the annual $1 million in grants obtainable by way of the Colorado Nonprofit Safety Grant program that was established by regulation in 2022. The brand new cash comes from an emergent wants fund established throughout COVID-19 restoration, in response to the governor’s workplace.
The brand new grant will go to organizations with rising safety wants. The Colorado Division of Homeland Safety and Emergency Administration and the Colorado Division of Public Security will develop the particular standards for the brand new cash and announce them quickly, in response to the information launch concerning the grant.
Mohamed Sabry Soliman, the person suspected of finishing up the firebombing assault, faces greater than 100 state and federal fees, together with first-degree homicide and violating federal hate crime regulation.
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