Police investigating alleged incidents of antisemitic graffiti in Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh police are investigating alleged instances of antisemitic graffiti that took place overnight.

Graffiti was left on Chabad of Squirrel Hill and the Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh sometime overnight Monday, police said.

There are currently no suspects. Police are investigating, including the possibility that the vandalisms are related.

City Controller Rachael Heisler released a statement following the vandalism:

“What is actually being protested if the end result is anti-Semitic graffiti on prominent Jewish institutions in our city? This is a devastating escalation in Jewish hate as anti-Semitism becomes more mainstream. In this moment, all leaders must loudly reject political movements — and their leaders — that promote vitriol, hate, and violence. To my Jewish friends and neighbors: I see you and stand with you.”

Gov. Josh Shapiro also issued a statement on the graffiti:

“The Squirrel Hill community witnessed the deadliest act of antisemitism in our nation’s history at Tree of Life Synagogue.

They should not need to wake up to antisemitic graffiti in their neighborhood.

Vandalism of any type of a house of worship has no home in our Commonwealth — and we must all continue to call it out and speak with moral clarity.”

Community members Channel 11 spoke with say they’re frightened following recent incidents of antisemitism.

“I’m starting to feel that I’m afraid now,” said Sheldon Shapiro.

In the cover of darkness, someone spraypainted the “We Stand with Israel” sign in Simone and Sheldon Shapiro’s front yard.

“It’s definitely a sign of hatred,” said Simone Shapiro.

“Jews 4 Palestine” was written on several yard signs near Schenley Park.

“It’s also an indication of ignorance,” said Simone. “Ignorance. Stupidity. No knowledge of history. No understanding of the actual situation. Unfortunately, that kind of ignorance is not something that can just be excused and say, ‘Oh it’s too bad.’ Because that kind of ignorance and those kinds of words can then lead to actions and those actions can then become violent actions.”

Those words were also painted on the Chabad of Squirrel Hill, along with an inverted red triangle.

“I’ve come to learn this morning that Hamas has been using to target people, to eliminate, to kill,” said Rabbi Yisroel Altein. “Trust and faith in God is the basis of our being. As Jews, we’ve seen it all, unfortunately. Three thousand years of persecution. We’re still here, and we’re always going to be here.”

Besides Pittsburgh Police, Mayor Ed Gainey also stopped by the synagogue on Monday morning.

“I want to be clear that targeting places of worship has no place in our city, and neither does antisemitic hate behavior,” Gainey said. “It really has no place in our country or in the world. Hate has never been able to build anything, but love can build all things. When we come to talk about religious institutions and where people go to pray. They should be safe there. They should be protected, and we shouldn’t have any defacing of any of those properties. What happened last night at 1:45 in the morning cannot be tolerated. We cannot have people going around targeting where people worship. Making them scared to go to the synagogue, making them scared to participate with their rabbi and with their people in order to praise their God.”

Gainey joined other community leaders in the afternoon at the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, which was also targeted.

“This was a direct attack on our Pittsburgh Jewish community,” said Shawn Brokos, Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh director of community security.

“Here’s one thing that the haters don’t get,” Altein said. “When you take good people and you try hating, they just like doing more good.”

“We’re going to put up two more signs, and we’re going to put up another sign that says something even stronger and that’s our plan,” Simone said. “We’re not backing down.”

Pittsburgh Police are looking over surveillance video to find out who’s responsible for the antisemitic graffiti. Anyone with information is asked to call Zone 4 police at 412-422-6520.

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