Mount Lebanon, PA – An investigation is underway after Mount Lebanon police say they received reports of anti-Semitic flyers left overnight in a neighborhood.
In a Facebook post Tuesday morning, the department said the flyers were discovered on Markham, Altadena and Inglewood Drives.
Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 talked with the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh about the incident. Adam Hertzman, the director of marketing, said the flyers were put inside of bags full of rice and thrown onto driveways.
“I hate to say it, but the level of anti-Semitism we have seen, specifically in Western Pennsylvania, is very high,” Hertzman said.
Hertzman described Pittsburgh as a hub for anti-Semitic hate activity.
“It’s not 100% clear but we do know, it’s an unfortunate fact, that sometimes hate events, like the attack in 2018 on the three synagogues here, attracts other hate groups,” Hertzman said.
Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 talked with residents in the Mount Lebanon neighborhood where the flyers were found.
“I am very surprised, yeah, it is disheartening. I am shocked. I just wouldn’t have expected that in this neighborhood,” Tim Pitcairn said.
“Sadness, but not shock since we had this problem ongoing in Mount Lebanon with the swastikas in the schools, so unfortunately as horrific as it is, it is also not shocking,” Roxy MtJoy said.
MtJoy is referring to incidents that happened in 2021. In one case, the school district said a swastika made from masking tape was found on the back of a dry erase board in its Jefferson Middle School. Several others were found in restrooms.
The Mount Lebanon police department said they are investigating this latest overnight incident but would not go into details.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh is asking people to remain vigilant. If you see something, say something.
“We are continuing to work with the police and continuing to put in security measures to make sure that the Jewish community stays safe,” Hertzman said.
