Pennsylvania – A new report from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has revealed a disturbing escalation of antisemitic incidents across Pennsylvania, with the state now ranking fourth highest nationally for antisemitic harassment, vandalism, and assault.

The ADL’s “Hate in the Keystone State: Extremism & Antisemitism in Pennsylvania” report documents 465 antisemitic incidents in 2024, marking an 18% increase from 394 incidents in 2023. The data shows assaults increased by 140%, vandalism rose by 35%, and harassment grew by 12%. Preliminary data through June 2025 indicates at least 76 additional incidents. The report also documents two major acts of political violence: the April 2025 Molotov cocktail attack on Governor Josh Shapiro’s residence and the July 2024 attempted assassination of President Trump at a Butler County rally.

The report identifies the Pennsylvania chapter of White Lives Matter as the most active white supremacist group in the state, organizing at least 10 events and distributing propaganda on at least 28 occasions since 2023. Disturbing incidents documented include a March 2025 attack in Philadelphia where an individual threw hot coffee at two Jewish men while shouting “I hate Jews, you should die,” and an August 2024 assault at the University of Pittsburgh where a man beat two Jewish students with a glass bottle. A 2024 study of Lackawanna, Monroe, Pike, and Wayne Counties found that 36% of Jewish adults personally experienced antisemitic incidents in the past year, with 38% altering their behavior out of fear.

“The concerning trends of rising antisemitism and extremism documented in this report highlight the critical need for coordinated action across the state,” said Andrew Goretsky, ADL Philadelphia Senior Regional Director. Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday stated, “Hate has no home here in our Commonwealth, and I look forward to working with all Pennsylvanians to foster an environment where these types of acts become unthinkable and rare.” The ADL recommends that Pennsylvania adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism, establish a state task force to address hate crimes, and support legislation addressing masked harassment and intimidation.

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