After the tragic events in Boulder, Col., earlier this week, a former MLB all-star known for earning walks isn’t giving congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez a free pass.
Kevin Youkilis, who earned the nickname “The Greek God of Walks,” during his 10-year MLB career, called out the representative from New York for “virtue signaling” with her social media post after the alleged antisemitic hate crime.
More than a dozen people were injured in a firebomb attack on Sunday in Boulder, with the horrific incident being treated by the FBI as a hate crime after suspect Mohamed Sabry Soliman told police that he tried to kill demonstrators demanding the release of Hamas’ Israeli hostages, according to an FBI affidavit.
AOC condemned the “horrific attack” in a post on Monday.
“I am horrified by last night’s horrific attack in Boulder. My heart is with the victims and our Jewish communities across the country,” she wrote.
“Antisemitism is on the rise here at home, and we have a moral responsibility to confront and stop it everywhere it exists.”
But her words were not enough for Youkilis, who is Jewish and served as the hitting coach for Team Israel at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
“Jews are targeted with violence and it’s the same virtue signal post time and time again,” he wrote on X. “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.”
Youkilis was apparently referencing pro-Palestinian rallies in New York, where chants of “long live intifada” reportedly were chanted by demonstrators.
“Intifada” is an Arabic word for a rebellion used to describe Palestine’s various uprisings against Israeli occupation.
Many claim the term and slogan “Globalize the Intifada” inherently are antisemitic.
Youkilis, who has been an outspoken supporter of Israel, won two World Series during his time with the Boston Red Sox and made three all-star teams.
He also played for the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees during his career and is a brother-in-law of NFL icon Tom Brady after marrying his sister in 2012.