The Colorado Palestine Coalition (CPC) is a radical-left group that promotes anti-Israeli advocacy regarding the Israeli-Hamas War that began following the October 7, 2023 Hamas terror attack against the State of Israel. ¹

Overview

In October 2024, the CPC organized a demonstration of roughly 100 people in Denver to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. ² Colorado Public Radio quoted one CPC leader, who refused to identify herself, saying “The blame for any and all violence that day falls on those who supported, allowed, enabled and directly funded Israel.” ²

The Colorado Palestine Coalition partners with other radical-left and Palestinian nationalist organizations including the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), The Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), Shut It Down for Palestine (SID4P), Jewish Voice for Peace, and the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign. ^{3 4 5}

Activism

Post-October 7 Attack Demonstration

Hours after the beginning of the October 7, 2023 Hamas terror attacks against the State of Israel, members of the Colorado Palestine Coalition demonstrated at the Colorado State Capitol in support of Hamas. ⁶ The protest, which reportedly numbered in the dozens of attendees, received media attention after State Rep. Tim Hernandez (D-Denver) was photographed at the event waving a Palestinian flag. ⁶ Legislators from both the Republican and Democratic Parties criticized Hernandez for supporting terrorism by participating in the CPC event. ⁶

2024 Jewish National Fund conference

Two months after the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, the Jewish National Fund held its Global Conference for Israel at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. ⁷ Speakers at the event included Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) and Gilad Erdan, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations. ⁸

The Colorado Palestine Coalition called on left-wing activists to “shut down” the event, and protestors attempted to disrupt a speech by Polis. ^{9 10 11} While the CPC and other organizers characterized the protests and pickets as “peaceful,” some marchers held up signs supporting Hamas in its attacks on Israeli civilians, including one sign calling for “Palestinian liberation by any means necessary” that featured photos of Hamas militants breaching the Israel-Gaza boundary on October 7. ¹²

Pro-Israel attendees at the conference reported feeling unsafe after protestors allegedly shouted, “Die, Jew, die.” ¹²

2024 Presidential Elections

The Colorado Palestine Coalition attempted to use the 2024 presidential election cycle to pressure the Biden administration into ending its support for Israel. ¹³ It also pressured Democratic legislators, with members disrupting a town hall by U.S. Representative Jason Crow (D-CO) in January 2024.¹⁴

Along with other Palestinian nationalist organizations in the state, it organized Democratic voters to vote uncommitted during the Democratic presidential primaries against President Biden in February 2024, and then protested visits by Vice President Kamala Harris to Denver and Colorado Springs during her campaign. ^{13 15 16}

After the election, the CPC’s social media accounts released a statement saying, “The Democratic Party and Kamala Harris’s unwavering support for Zionism earned her loss in the United States 2024 election.” ¹⁷

Funding

As an informal coalition, the Colorado Palestine Coalition does not publish any financial reports or tax filings. Its fundraising website is hosted by the Denver chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. ¹⁸ As of November 2024, that site listed 300 donors and had reached $661 of its $25,000 goal. ¹⁸

1. Colorado Palestine Coalition. Accessed November 25, 2024. https://copalestine.co/.
2. May, Haylee. “Colorado Palestine Coalition Protests in Downtown Denver One Year after Hamas Attack.” Colorado Public Radio, October 8, 2024. https://www.cpr.org/2024/10/07/colorado-palestine-coalition-hosts-protest-in-downtown-denver-one-year-after-hamas-attack/.
3. Lavezzorio, Claire. “Pro-Palestine Demonstrators March through Downtown Denver to Mark One Year since Start of Israel-Hamas War.” Denver 7 Colorado News (KMGH), October 7, 2024. https://www.denver7.com/news/front-range/denver/pro-palestine-demonstrators-march-through-downtown-denver-to-mark-one-year-since-start-of-israel-hamas-war.
4. Secrest, Ivy. “Free Palestine Protest at Denver Capitol Demands Ceasefire.” The Rocky Mountain Collegian, November 10, 2023. https://collegian.com/articles/news/2023/11/category-news-free-palestine-protest-at-the-denver-capitol-demands-ceasefire/.
5. “Get Involved.” Colorado Palestine Coalition. Accessed November 25, 2024. https://copalestine.co/orgs.
6. McKinley, Carol. “Rookie Legislator’s Support for Palestine in Wake of Attacks Draws Gold Dome Criticism.” Denver Gazette, October 10, 2023. https://denvergazette.com/news/tim-hernandez-palestine-hamas-israel-attacks/article_a64b2856-66ca-11ee-ad0a-a3d916e630c5.html.
7. Abeyta, Michael. “‘we Are Here in Peace’: Colorado Palestinian Coalition Plans to Protest Upcoming Jewish National Fund Conference.” CBS News, November 27, 2023. https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/colorado-palestinian-coalition-plans-to-protest-upcoming-jewish-national-fund-conference/.
8. Bloom, Matt, and Kyle Harris. “The Jewish National Fund USA’s Denver Conference and the Protests around It, Explained.” Denverite, November 30, 2023. https://denverite.com/2023/11/30/jewish-national-fund-denver-conference-protests-explained/.
9. Aguilar, John. “Pro-Palestinian Group Calls for Activists to ‘Shut down’ Israel Conference as Denver Event Becomes Focal Point.” The Denver Post, November 23, 2023. https://www.denverpost.com/2023/11/22/conference-israel-denver-protest-palestinians-convention-center/.
10. Festenstein, Noah. “Polis Urges Coloradans to Stand behind Israel as Pro-Palestinian Protesters Bang on Windows.” Denver Gazette, December 1, 2023. https://denvergazette.com/news/denver-jewish-national-fund-conference/article_44b3e0f8-8fd6-11ee-9291-b741000968e3.html.
11. Toomer, Lindsey. “Protesters Rally in Support of Palestinians during Colorado Governor’s Address.” Colorado Newsline, January 12, 2024. https://coloradonewsline.com/2024/01/11/protesters-palestinians-polis/.
12. Abeyta, Michael. “On the Last Day of the Global Conference for Israel in Denver, Protestors and Attendees Say They Feel Unsafe.” CBS News, December 3, 2023. https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/denver-global-conference-israel-protestors-attendees-feel-unsafe/.
13. Woodruff, Chase. “Colorado Groups Launch Formal ‘noncommitted’ Campaign to Protest Biden in March 5 Primary.” Colorado Newsline, February 29, 2024. https://coloradonewsline.com/2024/02/28/colorado-groups-launch-formal-noncommitted-campaign-to-protest-biden-in-march-5-primary/.
14. Joss, Nina. “Rep. Crow Town Hall Interrupted by Protesters with Colorado Palestine Coalition.” Littleton Independent, January 25, 2024. https://coloradocommunitymedia.com/2024/01/25/rep-crow-town-hall-interrupted-by-protesters-with-colorado-palestine-coalition/.
15. Toomer, Lindsey. “Kamala Harris Visits Denver to Tout Reelection Campaign, Forewarn of Dangers If Trump Wins.” Colorado Newsline, March 13, 2024. https://coloradonewsline.com/2024/03/12/kamala-harris-visits-denver/.
16. Gollier, Brenner. “Colorado Springs People’s Coalition Protests Kamala Harris Visit to Colorado Springs.” Fight Back! News, June 7, 2024. https://fightbacknews.org/articles/colorado-springs-peoples-coalition-protests-kamala-harris-visit-to-colorado.
17. @copalestineco. “Our Statement on the 2024 Elections.” X (formerly Twitter), November 6, 2024. https://x.com/copalestineco/status/1854347814387503192.
18. “Internationalism Solidarity Fund: Denver DSA.” Donorbox. Accessed November 25, 2024. https://donorbox.org/internationalism-solidarity-fund.