Please Be Aware
Pitt Police filed additional charges this week against five pro-Palestinian protesters from the June 2, 2024, encampment at Pitt for their role in allegedly rushing a police line and moving police barricades. The charges are obstructing law enforcement and disorderly conduct. Two of the five have also been charged with aggravated assault. See the article below.
Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) announced that Text-to-911 is now available throughout the entire state, see the below article for information on how this important alternative works.
Pittsburgh City Council is proposing a referendum that the City cannot discriminate based on race, religion, national origin, or association with foreign nations when it conducts business. This is in response to the proposed anti-Israel referendum led by a pro-Palestinian group that seeks to have the city stop doing business with companies tied to Israel. See the article below for more information.
So far in 2025, we have logged 15 incidents in our Virtual Command Center. This compares to 5 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
- Months after Pitt encampments, more charges filed against pro-Palestinian protesters (msn.com)
- Text-to-911 now available in all Pennsylvania counties (wgal.com)
- Fetterman, Cassidy reintroduce legislation targeting antisemitism at universities (jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com)
- Effort to block Pittsburgh from doing business with Israel spurs City Council backlash (TribLIVE.com)
- IDF reservist Max Long, Jewish DePaul student Michael Kaminsky concerned about safety after alleged hate crime attack on campus (ABC7Chicago.com)
BluePoint Status
BluePoint installation is nearly complete at Kollel and Aleph, NCJW is next then UpStreet. 24 of our organizations are online with BluePoint, with eight more coming online by April 1, 2025. Police boxes to be installed at 16 of our organizations early next week.
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
Online Safety & Digital Responsibility
Pittsburgh, PA 15217 United States + Google Map
Open to the Public The Jewish Federation is hosting an evening of discussion about cybersecurity awareness for younger students and their families with Felicia Trovato, Community Outreach Specialist, FBI Pittsburgh. Join a discussion with FBI Pittsburgh about online safety for students in grades 5 through 9. Registration is required. Topics Covered Online Safety & Situation Awareness Cyberbullying Awareness Trusted Adults & Seeking Help Digital Footprint & Permanence Text Message Et...
Emergency Preparedness Webinar
"If it is predictable, it is preventable." ~Gordan Graham Hazards, both manmade and natural, are a concern for all organizations. Establishing an All-Hazards Plan will not only assist in preventing many known threats, it will also provide a roadmap to mitigate these hazards. Continuity of Business Plans are the next step and crucial to direct how to move forward and restore your organization. This Webinar prepares organizations to handle emergencies by building All-Hazards and Continuity of...
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 Go Bags, Emergency Safety Procedures Flip Charts or medical supplies contact Erin Fagan at efagan@jfedpgh.org or 412-992-5252.
