Rep. Summer Lee’s Statement Marking Six Years Since the Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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Rep. Summer Lee’s Statement Marking Six Years Since the Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA) released the following statement to honor the six-year mark since the horrific antisemitic attack at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue, where eleven lives were tragically taken.

“Today, we mark six years since the horrific antisemitic attack at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, where eleven beloved members of our community were taken from us in an act of unthinkable hate. As we remember Bernice & Sylvan Simon, Cecil & David Rosenthal, Joyce Fienberg, Richard Gottfried, Rose Mallinger, Jerry Rabinowitz, Daniel Stein, Melvin Wax, and Irving Younger, we hold their families, friends, and the entire Jewish community in our hearts. Their memory fuels our fight to confront antisemitism, white supremacy, and bigotry in all its forms.

October 27th, 2018, remains a day of deep trauma for Pittsburgh and our nation. This attack shattered not only the sanctity of worship but also our collective sense of safety and unity. Today, we stand with our Jewish siblings, committed to being stronger allies, to growing in our understanding, and to ensuring that antisemitism is condemned and eradicated.

As hate crimes continue to rise, with antisemitic incidents accounting for the majority of religious hate crimes in the country, now is the time to act. We must continue to educate about the dangers of antisemitism to prevent further violence. This is why I am proud to support legislation like the H.R. 3929 Disarm Hate Act, which aims to prevent individuals convicted of hate crimes from accessing firearms. And I am honored to recognize the Tree of Life attack through H.Res. 819, a resolution marking this solemn occasion and reaffirming our commitment to fighting antisemitism.

But legislation alone is not enough. We must also support healing and resilience in our communities. The trauma that the Jewish community in Pittsburgh and beyond continues to carry needs more than our thoughts—it needs our action. 

In moments like these, we are reminded that hate has no home here. It is through solidarity, education, and a relentless pursuit of justice that we can ensure such a tragedy never happens again. We will continue building from this tragedy, creating spaces for healing, resilience, and understanding. Together, we will dismantle systems of hate and violence, and continue to stand for a Pittsburgh that is stronger than hate—for all of us.”

Rep. Summer Lee is committed to ensuring that Congress stands with Pittsburgh’s Jewish community, supporting funding for trauma recovery, and strengthening legislative action to end the cycle of hate-fueled violence.