A delegation of Israeli officials and representatives of six families of hostages and victims of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack was turned away Monday by House Speaker Julie McCluskie.

That wasn’t how it was supposed to happen, according to Rep. Ron Weinberg, R-Loveland, who told Colorado Politics he had obtained permission from the speaker for the families to visit the House floor.

Weinberg sent a press release on Sunday night announcing that the six families and dignitaries would be honored in both the Senate and House.

“The brutality and pure evil of the attack on October 7 have been forgotten, downplayed, or, in some cases, outright ignored by many in the aftermath of these atrocities,” Weinberg, who is Jewish, said. “We must share the voices of those whose loved ones suffered from these barbaric acts, many of whom remain in captivity or in unknown status at the hands of Hamas terrorists. It is my honor to host these families and have them share the horrors they have had to endure with the leaders of our state.”

Everything changed between Sunday night’s announcement and when Weinberg arrived at the Capitol on Monday, according to the Loveland Republican. Weinberg said McCluskie called him shortly before he arrived at the Capitol to tell him the visitors would not be allowed on the House floor.

In a statement, the House speaker said she is worried that members on both sides of the aisle would fail to “rise to the occasion.” She also worried that continuing to “bring this issue into” the House would have detrimental effects on the House’s ability to work together, she said. 

Weinberg issued a statement in response to McCluskie’s Monday morning decision.

“It is outrageous the Democrats do not trust their own members not to ’embarrass’ family members of victims who have been taken hostage by Hamas terrorists,” he said. “This is not a Republican or Democratic issue — this is about saying ‘no’ to evil. This is about standing up for right and wrong. This is about human decency.”

The families were allowed in Senate chambers, and Weinberg was given the unusual honor of being allowed to address the Senate since he was denied that opportunity in his own chamber.

McCluskie also came to the Senate, along with nearly half of the members of the House, to hear Weinberg speak.

The group later met with Gov. Jared Polis after spending time with lawmakers in the state Senate.

Sen. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Adams County, told Colorado Politics that McCluskie’s decision reflects several years of similar decisions by House leadership. She added that she has tried to bring forward other resolutions, such as a resolution for Israeli Independence Day, and has been denied every time.

“I think (McCluskie) must be under some pressure that I don’t understand,” Michaelson Jenet said. “I’m trying to have grace for the fact that she’s under this pressure I don’t understand. I’m grateful I’m in the Senate, where I can welcome them to the floor.”

Michaelson Jenet called the situation in the House a “different animal,” adding that she cannot imagine what McCluskie must be going through since she has decided she cannot welcome these families to the floor.

Weinberg told the Senate this is the second time in six months that something like this has happened, noting that he has been working with the Colorado General Counsel to bring these stories that he said people need to hear to Colorado.

“We have endured, since Oct. 7, antisemitic remarks and behavior in these chambers and this building … and it’s hurtful,” Weinberg said. “When injustice occurs, it’s the duty of all senators, all House representatives, our governor, and everyone in higher office to take a stand. I urge you to speak to these people and hear their stories.

“I ask you give these people an opportunity to share the stories, the atrocities being committed. Hamas is a terrorist organization that murders Americans and Israelis alike. That behavior needs to be condemned,” he added.

Members of the House and Senate greeted the visitors’ following remarks from Michaelson Jenet and Weinberg, although McCluskie did not join the receiving line and went back to the House.

“These families have flown all the way from Israel because they know time is limited. Their loved ones’ time is short,” Michaelson Jenet told the Senate. “And if we don’t bring them home now, we don’t know that we’ll ever get to bring them home. They’ve flowed all the way from Israel to talk to us, to ask us to do whatever we can do, and there are things we can do. We can cry out for help. We are not powerless in this moment.”

“It is my endearing hope that we find and bring home the hostages now, and that it can come to peace,” Michaelson Jenet added.

McCluskie, in a statement to Colorado Politics said, “Our goal is to foster a respectful environment at all times, both for our honored guests, the people who work in this building, and our members. In the spirit of this objective, today we held a joint ceremony in the Senate where members from both chambers had the opportunity to recognize families of Israelis being held hostage in Gaza and victims of the October 7 terrorist attack.”

She also added: “We must respect the deep personal connections members in this chamber have to this ongoing tragedy. I did not have assurances that members on both sides of the aisle would rise to the occasion, and I had concerns that continuing to bring this issue into the chamber would have had long term detrimental impacts on how we are able to work together for the people of Colorado.”

The visitors spoke to lawmakers on the first floor of the Capitol before the morning session started, with more than a dozen House and Senate lawmakers, including Senate President Steve Fenberg of Boulder.

The families who visited the state Capitol Monday were:

• Shahar Mor, four family members were kidnapped. Three have been released, but Uncle Avraham Munder, who is in poor health, remains a hostage.

• Nissam Lok: daughter Shani, who holds a German passport, was kidnapped and murdered.

• Ofer Shamir, cousin was kidnapped and is still a hostage in Gaza.

• Yaakov Argamani: daughter Noa Argamani was kidnapped and is still in Gaza.

• Sharon Kaldaron: brother-in-law Ofer and two sons, grandmother, and a special needs child were kidnapped. The grandmother and child were found murdered. The two sons have been released; Ofer is still a hostage.

• Ayelet Smarno: Son Yonatan was kidnapped and murdered.

After visiting with Polis, the governor said, “The unbearable pain these families have faced is hard to imagine, but I’m grateful that they shared their stories and the stories of their loved ones with us here in Colorado.”

Polis called the loss of innocent civilian lives “tragic” and urged unity to fight hate.

“We are working to create a Colorado for all, where everyone can thrive no matter who they are or what they believe, and today’s visit was a reminder of why that work continues to be so important,” Polis said.