Antisemitic attack in Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood under investigation, police say
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — A Jewish student at the University of Pittsburgh wearing a Star of David necklace was attacked by a group of people who used antisemitic language in Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood early Friday morning, police said.
According to Pittsburgh police, the victim told detectives he was walking in the area of Semple and Ward streets around 2 a.m. when he saw a group of about eight men. When the group saw his necklace, police said they "hurled insults about Israel" and at least three of them began punching and kicking the victim.
A bystander intervened, but not before police said the victim suffered a bruised lip.
"So very disheartening to learn about," said Shawn Brokos, director of community security for the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh.
The victim later reported the incident to the Pitt police, but since the assault did not happen on campus, Pittsburgh police are handling the investigation.
University police posted a campus safety alert about the attack, describing three of the suspects as all men around 20 to 24 years old. Police said one man was wearing a white t-shirt with a gold chain, another was wearing an orange shirt and the third had a dark-colored sweatshirt.
"Seeing someone's religion should not trigger something inside you to beat the junk out of him," Chabad at Pitt Rabbi Shmuli Rothstein said. "That's a hate crime, that is hate."
Rothstein spoke with the student who was attacked on Friday afternoon. He said the student told him that the kicking and punching followed a short argument that began with the derogatory statements the attackers made.
"I just want to go home. Leave me alone," Rothstein said the student told the group. "You're just being stupid and dumb."
He described the student as a "strong kid" who planned to come back to Chabad for Shabbat on Friday evening. He was looking forward to seeing other students wearing Star of David necklaces and Kippot.
"Be proud of who you are," he said, sharing an overall message. "There's going to be haters in this world. And as long as long as we are strong about who we are, we can make the world a better place."
Investigating attack on Pitt Jewish student
Pittsburgh police said they're working with the FBI to "fully investigate" the attack and identify all suspects. Anyone with information is asked to call Pittsburgh police's Zone 4 station at 412-422-6520 or FBI Pittsburgh at 412-432-4000.
"The message is this just can't continue," Brokos said. "Our Jewish students need to feel safe walking around, whether it's on campus or off campus."
Brokos said she expects this to be a challenging month with the Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, as well as the one-year mark since the Oct. 7 attack approaching.
"This is the time now when people need to realize, please just stop inciting the Jewish students," Brokos said. "Stop targeting them. It has to stop."
Brokos said there will be increased security this upcoming month at Jewish organizations across the Pittsburgh region. She says she knows there's anxiety on campus, but officials are working with their partners to do everything they can to keep everyone safe.