Hateful, antisemitic flyers distributed throughout Squirrel Hill, Shadyside, Peters Township
Pittsburgh Police are investigating after several people in an SUV with Ohio plates threw baggies containing antisemitic and hateful messages into the front yards of families.
This happened throughout Squirrel Hill, including on Phillips Avenue between Murray and Beechwood, and some witnesses say the people in the car were yelling slurs.
Benjamin Schwartz has lived in Squirrel Hill his entire life.
'This whole thing is very disheartening,' Schwartz tells Channel 11. 'It's a scary time to be here.'
Schwartz says the hate speech has ramped up since October 7, 2023, a trend the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh says they're sadly seeing too.
'I remember going to the Holocaust museum with my parents at maybe 10 or 11 years old because every Jewish boy or girl needs to see that,' Schwartz said. 'And looking and just not understanding how such an idea Hitler gave to the people could take off, but now I get it.'
Schwartz's family had one of the baggies with antisemitic messages, weighed down by kernels of corn tossed in their front yard. The Jewish Federations says police have collected over 100 just in Squirrel Hill, not to mention those found in Shadyside and Peters Township, Washington County.
Witnesses say a Dodge Durango with Ohio license plates and three to four people inside tossed the baggies out of the car window while yelling slurs.
'There is no excuse for that kind of behavior,' neighbor Michelle Bjornstad said. 'We live in 2025. That stuff shouldn't be happening anymore.'
The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh says they know the national group behind this, which is known for flyers with a shock factor. They don't believe the people are from Pittsburgh. The Jewish Federation added that this group usually operates under the cover of darkness. which makes this all the more frightening.
'With this particular group, they were so blatant, they did this in broad daylight, between 6-8 p.m.,' Shawn Brokos with the Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh said. 'People were out, it was a beautiful night. It's disturbing to see them escalating and being so vocal about it.'
Brokos, the director of community security for the Jewish Federation, says they want to send the message that anyone who comes into our communities to threaten, harass or spread hate won't get away with it. Brokos says that's because of automatic license plate readers in Squirrel Hill, paid for by a security grant and used specifically to catch bad actors.
'We will be able to find you,' Brokos said. 'We will be able to catch you.'
Neighbors in Squirrel Hill say they'll continue to stand together and will not allow these messages to break their community.
'Act with kindness on every level,' Schwartz added. 'I know it's most of us, but let's be louder than them.'
Pittsburgh Police say at least one of the suspects is a man with red hair. The Jewish Federation is asking anyone who got one of these baggies to report it to police, especially if they witnessed the suspects yelling or threatening them, because it could rise to the level of ethnic intimidation.
Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
11 hours ago
- Miami Herald
‘Can't be silent anymore': Hundreds march in Aventura to combat surge in antisemitism
American and Israeli colors lined the streets of Aventura, where a crowd of more than 500 people embarked Sunday on a three-mile march — escorted by police — to raise awareness for rising antisemitism at home and abroad. The rally, co-organized by Run for Their Lives and the South Florida-based Loving Moms United movement, comes nearly two years after the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel. The trauma of that day continued to reverberate in Jewish communities across the globe, recently reignited by a violent terror attack at a sister rally in Boulder, Colorado. The June 1 attack in Boulder — carried out on one of Run for Their Lives' sister marches — left 16 injured, including an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor. The assailant, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, reportedly in the U.S. illegally, used homemade Molotov cocktails and a flamethrower-like device to target peaceful marchers. Authorities say Soliman had plotted the assault for more than a year and told police he intended to 'kill all Zionist people.' He now faces over 100 felony charges, including attempted murder and hate crimes. The Boulder march, like in Aventura, was part of a global effort to raise awareness for the more than 50 hostages still believed to be held in Gaza following the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. The juxtaposition between the peaceful intentions of such rallies and the violence in Boulder weighed heavily on Sunday's participants in South Florida. Among the marchers was Jason Wasser, an Aventura native now living in Hollywood, whose childhood friend was among the Boulder victims. 'You would never think that in 2025 this would be the state of our country,' he said. 'Things seem ideal until they're not. Historically, it's always been the Jews who are first.' Israel has been locked in a devastating war with Hamas since Oct. 7, 2023, when Palestinian militants killed nearly 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took another 251 people hostage. The ensuing Israeli counteroffensive has resulted in the deaths of nearly 55,000 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. Hamas is still holding 55 hostages, fewer than half of them alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Some of the marchers in Aventura on Sunday wore signs of the remaining hostages on their shirts to raise awareness. Cecile Mankes, a Jewish resident of Northwest Miami-Dade whose mother survived the Holocaust, walked wrapped around Country Club Drive in an Israeli flag and a blue, jewel-studded hat decorated with American and Israeli pins. 'Antisemitism has gotten to the point where we can't be silent anymore,' she said. 'I'm an American Jew first, not a Jewish American — there's a difference. I believe in this country more than anything in the world, I just don't know if it's safe for all of us anymore.' 'I am an American Jew first, not a Jewish American — there's a difference,' Mankes said. 'I believe in America. I am Jewish because I am. It's what I believe in.' Pearl Levitt, whose parents survived the Holocaust and once lived along the route of Sunday's march, shared an even more personal reflection. 'I'm glad they're not alive now,' Levitt said. 'They lost their parents. They were so sick from the camps. To have to look at this on the news and see it happening again — it would kill them.' Still, she walked proudly with hundreds of others. 'They think they can threaten us and kick us, but they'll never beat us down,' Levitt said. 'We're not going to let it happen again. And as upsetting as it is every day, we're just fighters, and we're going to fight for our rights.' Security for the Aventura march was tight. Aventura Chief of Police Michael Bentolila said 30 marked police cars escorted the rally, including an armored BearCat vehicle. Officers from the sheriff's office and North Miami Beach PD provided additional support. Vice Mayor Rachel Saltzman Friedland was also at the march, and told the Miami Herald that Aventura, home to many synagogues and a large Jewish population, had proactively implemented a zero-tolerance policy toward antisemitism before the war in Gaza escalated. 'We're on high alert at all times,' she said. 'We stand with Israel. We stand with the Jewish community. We stand with all communities — ending Jew hatred and ending antisemitism.' For Jaime and Janette Garmizo, who draped themselves in Israeli flags featuring yellow ribbons, the march was both personal and political. The flags were brought back from Hostages Square in Tel Aviv during a recent humanitarian aid trip. The yellow ribbons, interwoven into the Star of David on each flag, are meant to symbolize 'the unity Israel has to bring their hostages home, dead or alive,' Jaime said. Janette, through tears, added, 'Us Jews never lose faith. I wake up every day praying for good news.' The Garmizos' also wore dogtags bearing Hebrew inscriptions that read 'Bring them home.' Jaime wears his every day. Nathaly Haratz Kaswan, head of Loving Moms United, led the march wearing an Israeli-flag arm sleeve. She's become a key figure in hostage advocacy, even attending the State of the Union with Senator Rick Scott earlier this year. 'We are not ending this until they are all released,' she said. 'This is not over until then.' As the marchers reconvened at the Aventura Mall parking lot, they closed the march with recitals of the American and Israeli anthems. As attendees chanted 'Am Yisrael Chai,' the Hebrew saying meaning 'the people of Israel live,' Rabbi Yisroel Brusowankin of Chabad at Waterways told the Miami Herald that 'the only way forward is to continue living Jewishly — visibly, proudly and faithfully.' 'I think the haters are going to hate; antisemitism is the oldest hate in the world,' Brusowankin said. 'We're still here as a people because of our sacred mission, and nothing will stop that.'
New York Post
12 hours ago
- New York Post
Boulder Jewish Fest kicks off a week after antisemitic firebomb attack: ‘Healing is a marathon'
Thousands of people packed Sunday's Boulder Jewish Festival at the Pearl Street Mall in Colorado — not far from the site of last week's antisemitic firebomb attack. Among the event's speakers were members of Run for Their Lives, the peaceful group targeted by the firebomber. The festival, hosted by the Boulder JCC, featured dozens of community Jewish organizations, food vendors, an art market and live music and performances — under a noticeably stepped-up security presence. Thousands of people show up for a day of solidarity, unity and healing at Sunday's 30th annual Boulder Jewish Festival. REUTERS The festival served as a showing of community solidarity, healing and hope in the wake of the terror attack that injured 15 people participating in a pro-Israel walking event. Event organizers worked closely with the Boulder Police Department, JEWISHColorado's Secure Community Network and state officials to ensure the event was safe. Bomb-sniffing dogs could be seen walking around areas where the public gathered accompanied by uniformed police officers. The 30th annual Boulder Jewish Festival was held with increased security in the wake of last week's terror attack. REUTERS The festival kicked off with a walk of solidarity for the Israeli hostages still being held by Hamas. Run for Their Lives was holding such a walk when its members were allegedly targeted by Mohamed Sabry Soliman last week. Among last week's injured was Barbara Steinmetz, an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor described by a local rabbi as a 'very loving' woman. Members of Run for Their Lives took the stage to address the crowd. Susan Rona, the Mountain State's regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, also was on hand to thank those in attendance. 'The thousands strong showing up today are saying, 'Enough, enough, enough,' ' she said. 'Hate toward the Jewish community has no place in Boulder, hate has no place in Boulder. 'After the headlines fade, don't pretend this isn't happening. This is life for Jews in America today, and healing is a marathon,' she added. 'We in boulder have the power to change our polarized nation together. Let us show the world how we respond to hate. Let's make some new memories together in this space and show the world what hate cannot extinguish: love, shared humanity, community and joy,' she urged the cheering crowd. 'That is how we respond, and that is how we will move forward together, undeterred and more committed than ever to each other.'
USA Today
14 hours ago
- USA Today
Boulder Jewish Festival kicks off amid tight security one week after attack
Boulder Jewish Festival kicks off amid tight security one week after attack Show Caption Hide Caption Authorities charged alleged Boulder attacker with attempted murder Authorities formally charged Mohamed Sabry Soliman with 118 criminal counts including dozens of attempted murder charges. BOULDER, Colo. − The Boulder Jewish Festival was kicking off Sunday amid heightened security at the site where 15 people were injured in a fiery attack on a rally demanding the return of Israeli hostages from Gaza. This is the 30th anniversary of the festival, one of the longest-running Jewish cultural festivals in the nation. "We look forward to sharing this day of resilience, culture and community solidarity in downtown Boulder, exactly one week after an antisemitic terror attack shook the Jewish community," organizers said in a statement, promising "enhanced" security protocols. Organizers said they are working closely with Boulder Police Department, JEWISHColorado and state officialsto ensure safety. "These are precautionary measures and not based on any specific threat," the statement said. "The top priority is creating a secure, welcoming space where everyone can gather in solidarity and celebration." The festival will include a solidarity walk with members of Run For Their Lives, the group that sponsored the walk that drew the attack June 1. The walk will conclude with a "powerful, community-led program" featuring speakers including some from Run For Their Lives Boulder. Among them will be Moshe Emilio Lavi, whose brother-in-law, Omri Miran, 49, was kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7 and remains in captivity. No one died in the June 1 attack, but the wounded include eight females and seven males, ages 25 to 88, police said. The suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian native who's been held on a $10 million bond, faces more than 100 criminal counts including multiple counts of attempted murder. "The Jewish community is deeply grateful for the outpouring of support from near and far − local and global, interfaith, young and old," the statement said. "All are welcome, and we hope to have a tremendous turnout and show of solidarity."
