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 efagan@jfedpgh.org.
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
First Quarter Faith-Based Security and Resilience Learning Series
The Pennsylvania Office of Homeland Security and partners cordially invite you to attend the first quarterly event of our virtual learning series for faith-based organizations on Monday, March 24, 2025. In this first segment of our series, we will be hearing from Mr. Magnus Hakonsen, a survivor of the deadliest mass shooting in Norway's history. On July 22, 2011, Mr. Hakonsen was attending a political youth camp on the island of Utoya when a lone gunman attacked, killing 69 people and injuring 3...
Advanced Community Active Threat Training (CATT)
Pittsburgh, 15213 + Google Map
This event has been canceled. We apologize for the inconvenience. Feel empowered on campus with this class that teaches: The mind of the active shooter-predator vs. prey Situational awareness and survival mindset Basic self-defense techniques and weapons awareness and disarming techniques Reality based training Led by Dave Wright from Wrights Gym. Geared for college students but open to everyone. MADE POSSIBLE BY LEE AND LISA OLEINICK.
Guardian Training
Please contact Erin Fagan at efagan@jfedpgh.org 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 efagan@jfedpgh.org 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 efagan@jfedpgh.org or 412-992-5252.
