Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry attends pro-Israel rally in Utah
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Former Texas Gov. and presidential candidate Rick Perry attended a pro-Israel rally at the Utah State Capitol on Wednesday evening, several attendees confirmed.
About 300 people braved cold and rainy conditions to attend a “Stand with Israel” rally, showing support for Israel days after Hamas militants invaded Israel, killing an estimated 1,200 people, including one Utahn.
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Perry stood on the Capitol’s front steps, shoulder-to-shoulder with Utah state senators and representatives, while Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and several faith leaders spoke at a lectern at the foot of the staircase.
Cox posted an image on X, formerly Twitter, in which Perry can be seen standing near the top of the steps.
Tonight Utah gathered to pray for peace and to support Israel in the face of terror. I was grateful to see the solidarity of Republicans and Democrats condemning the massacre and caring for Utah’s Jewish community. Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts: pic.twitter.com/PsRzfcUkEk
— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) October 12, 2023
Perry reportedly came to Utah to meet with Republican lawmakers about psychological health. Perry has become an advocate for psychedelics as a treatment for mental health issues, including for veterans.
Cox spokesperson Jennifer Napier-Pearce said she was not aware of Perry’s presence at the rally.
Perry served as governor of Texas from 2000 to 2015, where he succeeded former President George W. Bush. Perry ran for the Republican nomination for U.S. president in 2012 and 2016.
Perry endorsed Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, after dropping out of the 2012 race, after it became clear Romney would win the GOP nomination. Throughout the campaign, Romney and Perry clashed on social security, health insurance and immigration.
Perry was nominated as U.S. Secretary of Energy by former President Donald Trump in 2017. He served until 2019, when he resigned amid scrutiny regarding his participation in pressuring Ukrainian officials to investigate the Biden family, a scandal that led to Trump’s first impeachment.
During his presidential campaigns, Perry pledged “unwavering” support for Israel. On X, he has shared an image encouraging “prayer for the state of Israel” and an article encouraging the conservative movement to “drive those people out” who have not denounced Hamas’ attack.
The Wednesday rally at the state Capitol featured speeches, prayers and readings from the Torah. Cox, who wore a yarmulke, pledged his support for the people of Israel and for “the Jewish community here in Utah” — or “Jewtah,” as he called it.
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Cox called for a moment of silence for Lotan Abir, a 24-year-old Utah resident who was killed while attending a rave over the weekend. Abir, an Israeli, had recently relocated to Utah.
Many in the crowd waved Israeli flags or held signs saying, “I Stand With Israel.”
Rabbi Chaim Zippel, co-director of Chabad of Utah County, told attendees he was in Israel Saturday morning when Hamas began its attack. He and his family fled to a bomb shelter, and later made it to the airport in Tel Aviv. Being Shabbat, he had not checked his phone to understand what was going on.
“Friends, my message to you this evening is that this is personal,” Rabbi Chaim Zippel said. “When I turned on my phone after Shabbat I felt completely gutted.”
His father, Rabbi Benny Zippel — who established the first Chabad congregation in Utah — and his brother, Rabbi Avremi Zippel, also spoke.
Rabbi Avremi Zippel showed photographs of individuals, including one Holocaust survivor, who were killed in the attacks.
“There will come a day in the not-so-distant future when the world will ask you to forget these names, these faces and these stories,” he told attendees. “Your being here today promises that these names, these faces and these stories will never never be forgotten.”
