Harrisburg, PA- The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) is aware of and strongly condemns messages of antisemitism and hate which were shared last Saturday during a march in downtown Harrisburg.
“This weekend what we saw on display in Harrisburg was an act of hate and cowardice. Roughly two dozen people covered their faces as they marched downtown spewing hateful rhetoric. Antisemitism and hate have no place in our Commonwealth or our country,” said PHRC Executive Director Chad Dion Lassiter, MSW. “We cannot let hate poison our communities. I was pleased to see the community come together to reject their message and hold an anti-hate rally at the Capitol on Sunday. The PHRC works with civic and activist organizations to explain the protections currently available to people who may be fearful of coming forward after experiencing hate.”
“There is no place for hate in Pennsylvania, said PHRC Civil Rights Outreach Coordinator Supervisor Sheryl Meck, M.S. “The vile demonstration we witnessed on Saturday does not reflect the true community of Harrisburg. The PHRC is committed to working with community organizations and members to spread a message of peace and unity. Together, we can show the cowards who marched with neo-Nazi flags that they are the minority and do not speak for the majority of Pennsylvanians.”
The PHRC Civil Rights Outreach Division was created in 2024 to engage in proactive outreach to educate the public about the dangers of bias and hate and the importance of anti-racism. The division:
- Provides complex facilitation and conflict resolution services for communities facing conflicts and tensions related to race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age, sex, LGBTQ+ status, national origin, familial status, or disability status pursuant to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act.
- Provide training and consultation services to public officials and community representatives and provides them with the skills and mechanisms necessary to prevent and resolve future tensions.
- Lead local projects or initiatives, as assigned by leadership to improve the Civil Rights Outreach Coordinators' visibility, ability to deliver services, and ability to anticipate and prevent conflict in jurisdictional communities.
- Develop and implement comprehensive outreach plans targeting communities in conjunction with the PHRC Advisory Councils and the PHRC Social Justice Ambassadors Program.
According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Center on Extremism, so far in 2024, Pennsylvania has experienced 89 antisemitic incidents and four white supremacist events. In a 2023 audit of Antisemitic Incidents, the ADL recorded 8,873 antisemitic incidents across the U.S. including 394 in Pennsylvania. That’s a 140% increase from 2022, and an all all-time high since the ADL started tracking in 1979.
In the upcoming weeks a community anti-hate rally will be held to support Harrisburg and the surrounding community. Information about this event will be released as soon as it is available.
The PHRC promotes equal opportunity for all and enforces Pennsylvania's civil rights laws that protect people from unlawful discrimination. Anyone who believes they have experienced acts of discrimination or hate should file a complaint with the PHRC by calling 717-787-4410. Information and resources are also available on the PHRC website. Follow the PHRC on X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, and subscribe to our monthly newsletter.
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