Please Be Aware
A group of illegal, anti-Israel protestors took over the lawn on Pitt’s campus by the Cathedral of Learning on Sunday evening. The protestors mobilized quickly, equipped with supplies to build structures to help them barricade. They provided a list of demands to Pitt, many of which were overtly antisemitic. They stayed in place until 2:00 AM on Tuesday morning, during which time they vacated – likely to avoid an imminent removal by law enforcement that had been previously scheduled.
There will be an increased police presence at many of our organizations during Shavuot, in an abundance of caution.
The defense team in the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial has filed its notice to appeal the conviction and sentence. The case will make its way to the 3rd Circuit of Appeals for review and a decision. This will be lengthy process and we will update as new information is available.
With the uptick in graffiti and antisemitic incidents please consider joining the Jewish Federation’s Virtual Block Watch Program. The program is entirely voluntary and is designed to keep our community safe through collaboration. More information can be found on the Virtual Block Watch webpage.
Year to date 2024, the Jewish Federation has logged 145 incidents in our Virtual Command Center. This compares to 56 YTD 2023. We remain in a heightened threat environment and are working closely with law enforcement to monitor potential threat activity. Please continue to report any suspicious incidents to us using the below link.
Security Matters in the News This Week
- Protesters trespass, encamp on Pitt’s property (jewishchronicle.com)
- Shooter in West LA hate crimes against Jewish men faces up to 40 years in prison (cbsnews.com)
- 34 in custody after BK Museum anti-Israel takeover: NYPD (nypost.com)
- Pensacola teens in antisemitic vandalism case will take plea deals (pnj.com)
BluePoint Status
Please review your current contact lists in BluePoint. If changes are needed, please contact Erin Fagan at [email protected].
Our BluePoint training video and refresher video are available on YouTube. These are useful for new staff or as a reminder for existing staff.
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.
Guardian Training
Please contact Erin Fagan at [email protected] or 412-992-5252 to schedule this training.
Situational Awareness, Active Threat, and De-Escalation Training
If you or your organization have not yet had these training modules, please contact Erin Fagan at [email protected] or 412-992-5252. All can be made available in person or via Zoom.
Request Training for Your Organization →
If you need more Emergency Safety Procedures Flip Charts contact Erin Fagan at [email protected] or 412-992-5252.
