Zappala condemns antisemitic graffiti in Squirrel Hill, says vandals committed possible hate crime

Vandals “crossed the line” by spray-painting a red triangle on a religious building in Pittsburgh’s center of Jewish life earlier this week and might be subject to federal prosecution for a hate crime, Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala, Jr. said Thursday.

The inverted red triangle — which was spray-painted early Monday on the Chabad of Squirrel Hill building below the phrase “Jews for Palestine” — is employed by the terrorist group Hamas to show who they’re targeting with violence, Zappala said. If someone is threatening violence against a specific person or group, they could face hate crime charges.

Zappala met Thursday morning with federal prosecutors and Pittsburgh police at the police bureau’s Zone 4 station in Squirrel Hill.

“I don’t think this is an appropriate way to communicate our First Amendment rights,” Zappala said after the meeting.

Investigators are looking into five different incidents of vandalism and ethnic intimidation in the area, Zappala said. He said there’s evidence more than one person was involved, but declined to elaborate.

Zappala addressed the vandalism that occurred around 1:45 a.m. Monday at the Chabad building on Squirrel Hill’s Beechwood Boulevard and at the Oakland offices of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. He would not say what other incidents prosecutors were reviewing.

Zappala’s comments come as antisemitic acts are rising locally and nationally.

So far this year there have been 181 antisemitic incidents reported in Pittsburgh through Thursday, up from 148 during the first eight months of last year, said Shawn Brokos, director of community security for the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh.

The number has nearly tripled this year since March.

There were 300 antisemitic incidents in Pittsburgh last year, up from 122 incidents in 2022 and 82 incidents in 2021, Brokos said.

Antisemitic incidents nationwide spiked 360% in the three months after Hamas stormed Israel Oct. 7, killing and injuring thousands of civilians and triggering war in Palestine’s Gaza Strip. Thousands of Palestinian civilians have been killed during the armed conflict that followed.

Monday’s incident in Pittsburgh, however, “is the first time we’ve seen this type of direct targeting from people we believe to be Hamas supporters,” Brokos said. “There was a deliberate effort to go from Squirrel Hill to the Jewish Federation office … To target our organization is targeting our community.”

Mayor Ed Gainey stood in support of the Jewish community during a news conference Monday at the Jewish Federation.

“Targeting houses of worship has no place in our city, and neither does antisemitic hate and behavior,” Gainey said.

Pittsburgh police have increased patrols in Squirrel Hill following Monday’s vandalism and other similar incidents, Emily Bourne, a police spokeswoman, said.

No charges have been filed made and no suspects are in custody.

Bourne urged anyone with information to call the Zone 4 station at 412-422-6520.

In the meantime, Chabad of Squirrel Hill responded to the attack by planning an event at its building Friday evening, “Fight With Light,” in a show of solidarity before the Jewish Sabbath.

The Chabad event runs from 5 pm. to 5:45 p.m.