A Peaceful Response to Protest

Before the featured guest speaker, Ran Bar-Yoshafat, a soldier from the Israeli Defense Forces, gave a first-hand account of what is happening in the Gaza Strip, several people were invited to address the gathering, including Nathan Winters, President of Wyoming Family Alliance. This is what he shared:

“For 1800 years, the children of Israel wandered among the nations. Through the centuries, at the closing of their celebrations, they would part with the words of prayer and hope found in the phrase, ‘Next year in Jerusalem.’

Finally, after centuries, they were able to rejoice with the words, ‘This year, we are in Jerusalem.’ But today, 130 captives are held in holes, in tunnels far below ground, longing to return home. Maybe the ancient prayer of ‘Next year, or next week, in Jerusalem’ is still on their lips.

One thing is sure: as citizens of the United States of America, we must stand with those who desire to live free. We must stand against those who would commit crimes and cruelty against the innocent. We must stand against those who, through vice and graft, have built enclaves of oppression.

A Peaceful Response to Protest

After describing his experience fighting in Gaza since the October 7th attack against Israel by Hamas, Ran Bar-Yoshafat, an Officer in Israel’s Combat Special Forces Army Reserves, opened up the floor to take questions from the audience.

First to bring questions (and accusations) were protesters who had been standing on the outskirts holding signs demanding that Israel “Free Palestine” and “End the genocide.” 

Though attempts were made to quiet the interruption, Bar-Yoshafat encouraged their questions and addressed them with calm directness based in the reality of his personal experience. To watch video of part of the exchange, click here.