Editor’s note: A previous version of this story included an erroneous statement from an interview subject. It has been removed.
Less than a week after a “Run for Their Lives” chapter in Colorado was attacked by a man with Molotov cocktails, Tenafly’s chapter of the global group pressing for the release of Israeli hostages is marching on with its weekly walks.
Advocates have walked through Tenafly every Friday morning since November, 2023, raising awareness for the hostages held by Hamas in the Israel-Hamas War. Undeterred by Sunday’s attack in Boulder, around 100 people turned out in Tenafly on Friday, about twice as many people as the walk has seen over the past few weeks.
“We’re not going to give up,” said organizer Roberto Cymrot. “We’re not going to be intimidated. It’s an important cause to all of us. It’s a humanitarian cause. The hostages have to be back.”
Elisabeth Heyman, a Tenafly resident, participated in Friday’s walk. “It made me more determined to come out and support this walk, support the families of the hostages and support Israel,” she said.
Added fellow walker Deena Friedman: “I’ve been showing up this whole time, and I wasn’t going to stop now. I know that Tenafly police are here today, and I feel safe. I’m going to keep coming.”
Multiple walkers said they plan on attending these walks until Hamas releases all 56 remaining hostages. Around 20 of the hostages are believed to be still alive.
