Rep. Summer Lee, PHRC Stand United Against Antisemitic and Racist Acts in Squirrel Hill
**For Immediate Release**
Rep. Summer Lee, PHRC Stand United Against Antisemitic and Racist Acts in Squirrel Hill
WASHINGTON, D.C. – MAY 21, 2025 — Today, Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12) joined the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) in condemning the recent distribution of antisemitic, racist, anti-immigrant, and anti-LGBTQ+ flyers in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh. In response to these deeply disturbing acts, Congresswoman Lee and the PHRC reaffirmed their shared commitment to standing with impacted communities and ensuring that hate has no place in Pennsylvania.
Rep. Lee said, “These hateful, antisemitic, and racist flyers scattered across Squirrel Hill are vile acts of intimidation and have no place in our communities. We will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with our neighbors — Jewish, Black, immigrant, LGBTQIA+, and allies — and fight back against the rise of white supremacy and bigotry that threatens all of us. The perpetrators must be brought to justice, and we must ensure our communities are protected, supported, and empowered to live free from hate.”
“This is not just an attack on minority communities in Squirrel Hill—it is an attack on all of us who believe in dignity, inclusion, and mutual respect,” said PHRC Commission Chair Joel Bolstein. “We must all raise our voices against antisemitism and make it clear that hate has no home in Pennsylvania.”
“These attempts to intimidate and sow fear in our communities have no place in Pennsylvania,” said PHRC Executive Director Chad Dion Lassiter, MSW. “Antisemitism, racism, and hatred is a persistent threat that demands collective action. At PHRC, we are committed to protecting the civil rights of all Pennsylvanians and ensuring that no community lives under the shadow of hate. We urge anyone with information to cooperate with authorities and help bring those responsible to justice.”
According to the ADL’s 2024 Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, Pennsylvania recorded 465 antisemitic incidents in 2024—an increase from 394 in 2023. Of those, 337 incidents involved harassment, 116 involved vandalism, and 12 involved assaults. Additionally, the Southern Poverty Law Center reports that Pennsylvania is home to 78 active hate and anti-government groups—the fourth highest number in the nation.
Rep. Lee’s office continues to coordinate with PHRC and local leaders in Squirrel Hill and across the district to uplift the voices of targeted communities and confront hate with solidarity and action.
Congresswoman Summer Lee serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on Education and the Workforce. Since taking office in January 2023, she has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $2.4 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $580 million for infrastructure, over $110 million for affordable transit, over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania, and over $55 million on clean energy efforts in and around schools to help keep our kids and communities safe. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs. Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 3,000 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.