(The Center Square) – A video of Colorado state Rep. Tim Hernández, D-Denver, declining to condemn Hamas’ recent attacks on Israeli citizens was criticized by members of both parties in the General Assembly.
Hernández attended a rally led by Colorado’s Palestinian community on Saturday, hours after the attacks began, and spoke to @_walruss on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, who identifies as a citizen journalist.
“And I think it’s despicable what they’re protesting for,” the interviewer tells Hernández on the video. “And the fact that you can’t condemn women and children and elderly people being murdered in the streets.”
“What about it?” Hernández responded.
“Do you condemn it?” the interviewer asked.
“I already said,” Hernández said.
“Why can’t you say, ‘yes’?” the interviewer asked.
“Because I already gave you my answer,” Hernández said.
“You didn’t give an answer,” the interviewer said. “And I think anybody who would watch this would understand what your actual position is here.”
“All three people who are going to watch your bullsh*t video, Russell?” Hernández said.
Some media outlets published a longer version of the video than a 24-second clip widely shared on X.
“I condemn any form of colonial violence,” Hernández said in a video clip in a CBS News Colorado report.
Hernández was appointed to the House in September by the Democratic Party to replace Serena Gonzalez-Gutierrez, who resigned to serve as an at-large member of the Denver City Council.
Colorado Sen. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, criticized Hernández for appearing at the rally hours after Hamas killed, tortured and kidnapped women, children and the elderly in Israel.
“I wholeheartedly disagree with Rep. Hernandez’s decision to attend a rally in support of the unconscionable terrorist campaign unfolding against thousands of Jewish families in Israel,” Michaelson Jenet said in a statement. “Further, his posting of harmful rhetoric supporting the terrorist action on social media is reprehensible and dangerous. As an Israeli and Jew, it’s hard to put into words the pain, fear and rage that myself and my family, both here and in Israel, feel.”
Rep. Lisa Frizell, R-Castle Rock, called for for Colorado House Democrats to formally reprimand Hernández in a social media post.
“His behavior and support of terrorists is beyond reproach,” Frizell said.
Colorado House Democrats did not immediately return The Center Square’s request for comment.
Rep. Ron Weinberg, R-Loveland and a member of the Jewish caucus, said condemnation of attacks rises above party.
“It’s not a Republican or a Democrat issue,” Rep. Weinberg told CBS News Colorado. “This issue stems specifically to what is right and what is wrong for humanity. And what is being conducted is literal war crimes. Every single lawmaker should stand firm, shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand, regardless of party affiliation and declare this as unacceptable.”
Hernández released a statement on social media expressing condolences for families of victims.
“I find one clear conclusion: I condemn war for any loss at all,” he said. “War threatens the dignity of life for citizens in all of Gaza, in all of Israel, and across the earth, and I hope one day soon we may build a world free from war entirely.”
