The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh is deeply disturbed and saddened by the discovery of hateful anti-Black and antisemitic graffiti on the Riverfront Park, a public space that serves the entire community. This act of hate has no place in Pittsburgh or anywhere else.

Jeff Finkelstein, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, issued the following statement:

“We strongly condemn this vile act of hate that seeks to divide our community and spread fear. Pittsburgh is a city that values diversity, inclusion, and mutual respect. The hateful messages deface not only Riverfront Park but also the values we hold dear as Pittsburghers. Together with our partners across the city, we are committed to fostering understanding and combating all forms of bigotry. Hate speech, whether it targets the Black community, the Jewish community or any other group, is an attack on all of us. We stand united against these acts of division and intimidation.”

The Federation is actively working with local officials, community organizations and law enforcement to address the incident and ensure that such acts are thoroughly investigated and addressed. The Federation also reaffirms its commitment to education and collaboration to combat hate in all its forms. We encourage residents to join our efforts to make Pittsburgh a stronger, more inclusive city.

If you witness hate crimes or discriminatory acts, please report them to local authorities. Then submit an incident report at jewishpgh.org/form/incident-report.