Please Be Aware
On September 2nd, Jeremy Brokaw of Ohio accepted a plea deal offered by the Magistrate in Peters Township related to the antisemitic and racist literature thrown from his vehicle on May 18 in Peters Township. He pleaded to three out of sixteen violations and the fines were significantly reduced. Brokaw’s case in Pittsburgh is pending appeal to the Court of Common Pleas.
On Aug 28, a federal judge ruled that the University of Pittsburgh must immediately reinstate the local chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). This comes after the group was suspended after a “study-in” back in December 2024 where members displayed pro-Palestinian messages, draped Palestinian flags over library tables and wore keffiyehs. SJP has a long history of anti-Zionist and anti-Israel protests and rallies, including taking part in a June 2024 encampment on university property that jeopardized the safety of students and law enforcement. It has promoted boycott movements against Israel on social media, accused Israel of “genocide” and reposted several unsubstantiated and incendiary claims against the Jewish state. For more on this, please see the article below.
Our intelligence partners shared information about an online bomb threat sent to a Pennsylvania University in late August. The university and law enforcement are currently investigating. If you receive an online bomb threat, please notify us immediately as the language may be similar and part of the scheme. Please also report it to local law enforcement immediately.
So far in 2025, we have logged 239 incidents in our Virtual Command Center. This compares to 209 for 2024. We continue to collaborate closely with law enforcement to monitor potential threat activity. Please continue to report any suspicious incidents via the Incident Report Form.
Security Matters in the News This Week
- Anti-Zionist group’s suspension from Pitt lifted by federal judge (jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com)
- Letter sent to Pitt, other schools by Pa. senators to combat antisemitism (wtae.com)
- Jewish orgs urge institutions to apply for NSGP grants, despite questions about new conditions (eJewishPhilanthropy.com)
- After Minneapolis shooting, security firms see influx of interest from faith groups (religiousnews.com)
BluePoint Status
Charles Morris installation is now complete. BluePoint is now live in 33 of the 36 locations. Police boxes have been installed at 28 of our organizations, enabling law enforcement to have immediate access in an emergency.
Security Resources and/or Training
Navigating Digital Threats: Strategies to Prevent Online Child Exploitation
Ahead of the next school year, please join the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse for a virtual training on preventing and responding to online child exploitation in K-12 communities. This session will feature a panel discussion with experts from the U.S. Department of Justice and National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, who will share valuable tools and resources to combat online child exploitation and educate teachers, students and families.
Request Training for Your Organization →
If you need Go Bags, Emergency Safety Procedures Flip Charts or medical supplies contact Erin Fagan at [email protected] or 412-992-5252.
