In a shocking incident at the University of Pittsburgh, a group of Jewish students were reportedly assaulted with a glass bottle, resulting in injuries to two of them.
The university confirmed the incident, which occurred near the iconic Cathedral of Learning on the campus, late on Friday night.
As reported by Fox News, the victims, who were donning traditional Jewish yarmulkes, received immediate medical attention at the scene. The university stated that the alleged assailant, who had no known affiliation with the institution, was promptly apprehended by the Pitt Police. The suspect was identified as wearing a kaffiyeh, a checkered scarf traditionally worn in the Middle East and increasingly recognized as a symbol of Palestinian solidarity.
In the aftermath of the incident, university authorities have been in touch with the Hillel University Center and the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. The university has unequivocally condemned the attack, describing it as "appalling." The statement from the university emphasized, "To be clear: Neither acts of violence nor antisemitism will be tolerated." The ongoing investigation into the incident is being supported by local and federal partners.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro expressed his condemnation of the incident, stating that "antisemitism and hate-fueled violence of any kind has no place" in the community. He further asserted, "No matter what you look like, where you come from, or who you do or do not pray to, you deserve to feel safe on your campus here in Pennsylvania." He added, "As an investigation proceeds, let me be clear: antisemitism and hate-fueled violence of any kind has no place in our Commonwealth. Lori and I are praying for the students injured and the Pitt community."
This incident comes amid a rising tide of antisemitism in the U.S., following the October 7 Hamas attacks in which terrorists invaded Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 fatalities and over 240 hostages. The repercussions of the Israel-Hamas conflict have been felt on college campuses across the country, with many witnessing ongoing protests and sit-ins.
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