A federal judge said Wednesday that prosecutors can proceed with a hate crime charge against a man accused of hurling Molotov cocktails at a group of people demonstrating in Boulder, Colorado, in support of Israeli hostages.

Mohammed Sabry Soliman’s lawyer argued that his alleged victims were targeted for their political views, not their ancestry.

Federal prosecutors on Wednesday laid out their case against the Boulder attack suspect Discussion Mohamed Soliman’s alleged motivation in the attack on Pearl Street earlier this month as safety changes are underway to protect Boulder residents as the judicial process moves forward.