Victor Mooney, a 59-year-old from Queens, NY, is biking across Poland to raise awareness about antisemitism and honor the memory of Jewish victims of the Holocaust. His effort is part of the We Remember Challenge, a campaign focused on remembrance and interfaith solidarity.
Mooney is cycling 80 to 100 miles per day, starting each morning at 2:00 a.m. He plans to stop at the Auschwitz and Majdanek concentration camps, where he will say prayers and leave two stones in remembrance. One stone represents the burden both African Americans and Jews have carried while the other is a symbol of unity and respect.
Mooney, a practicing Roman Catholic, says he was raised with a high regard for the Jewish people. He sees connections between the historical struggles of African Americans and Jews, especially in their shared experiences of hiding and survival during periods of violence. He has received both support and criticism for his public support of the Jewish community. Mooney says he is continuing the ride because he believes it is the right thing to do. “When everyone else chooses silence, I want to speak out.”
This is not Mooney’s first endurance challenge. Years ago, he rowed across the Atlantic Ocean in memory of his brother, who died of AIDS. That trip took him more than four months and included several life-threatening incidents, including a shark attack and equipment failure. Mooney says this may be his final long-distance ride. He hopes the trip will raise awareness about antisemitism and encourage more people to speak out against hate.
