Colorado will offer $250,000 in security grants for places at increased risk of attack, such as synagogues, mosques and places of worship, Gov. Jared Polis announced Monday.
The new grant follows the June 1 firebomb attack in Boulder on a group of people marching in support of Israeli hostages. The grant’s announcement also fell on the day that one of the firebombing victims, Karen Diamond, died.
“Sadly, as antisemitism and other forms of hate and instances of violence are on the rise, we know that our places of worship, religious schools, and other places of gathering in communities face increased risk,” Polis said in a statement. “This additional support will help ensure that upgrades are made to increase safety.”
The new money builds on the annual $1 million in grants available through the Colorado Nonprofit Security Grant program that was established by law in 2022. The new money comes from an emergent needs fund established during COVID-19 recovery, according to the governor’s office.
The new grant will go to organizations with emerging security needs. The Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the Colorado Department of Public Safety will develop the specific criteria for the new money and announce them soon, according to the news release about the grant.
Mohamed Sabry Soliman, the man suspected of carrying out the firebombing attack, faces more than 100 state and federal charges, including first-degree murder and violating federal hate crime law.
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