Milwaukee’s chapter of Run for Their Lives, an international group that raises awareness for the hostages held in Gaza, saw a boost in its weekly turnout — up to ten times larger than usual — the Sunday after an attack on another chapter in Boulder, Colo.
Milwaukee’s Run for Their Lives participants gather in a different place each week to walk, talk and run, often holding signs advocating for the hostages’ release. The global initiative prioritizes the urgent return of the hostages above all else, rather than focusing on a pro-Israel stance.
During an attack on June 1, a man injured 15 people by throwing molotov cocktails into a crowd of Run for Their Lives participants in Boulder, reportedly shouting “Free Palestine.” The suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, told authorities he “wanted to kill all Zionist people.”
Heather Berken, founder and leader of the Milwaukee chapter, noticed a dramatic shift in attendance the following Sunday, with the typical turnout of 10 to 15 participants skyrocketing to 80 to 100 participants.
“This isn’t a demonstration. This isn’t a protest,” said Maureen Luddy, a longtime participant during the Run for Their Lives walk on June 8 in Whitefish Bay. “This is just a peaceful humanitarian march to bring great attention to the fact that people were taken from their homes in pajamas and tortured, raped, and killed on Oct. 7, and the ones that were taken hostage have been held there for 611 days.”
Attendees are refusing to remain silent, according to Berken.
“I think there’s a defiance,” Berken said. “They’re not going to scare us from being able to advocate. It’s perfectly reasonable and apolitical. We shouldn’t even be getting yelled at. Which we do.”
There are 53 Israeli hostages still held in Gaza, as of Chronicle press time. Run For Their Lives has more than 230 chapters around the world, including in Milwaukee and Boulder.
“What happened last week in Boulder is horrendous, but… every obstacle in life presents an opportunity, and it’s an opportunity for more people to understand and fight for the hostages,” said Luddy, who has been a member of multiple synagogues in the Milwaukee area. In addition to leading Run for Their Lives, she knits hats for Israel Defense Forces soldiers through a group called Beautifully Jewish to “bring back joy into Jewish life.”
Some feel the hostages are not being covered enough in the media.
“I think in general, the hostages don’t get exposure,” said Justin Ribault, a first- time participant on June 8. “Having these marches stirs up interest. And the hostage posters could maybe lead to education, to learning more about the situation.”
Attendees of the Milwaukee chapter of Run for Their Lives often display posters with names and faces of the hostages to humanize them and keep them from becoming numbers in a news cycle. At times, they walk to honor specific hostages. Over Father’s Day weekend, the group honored hostage Omri Miran, a father of two small girls.
“They’ve been in tunnels and cages, and it’s time for them to come home,” said Menachem Graupe, an attendee from Mequon. “I don’t want people to forget about them.”
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To learn more about the Milwaukee chapter of Run for Their Lives, join their WhatsApp group through Run4Lives.org, or follow their Facebook group at Run 4 Their Lives Milwaukee. People of all physical capabilities are welcome.
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