Jewish University of Pittsburgh student recounts antisemitic attack
“I call on the school and the city to do more to combat antisemitism on campus,” he said, “as well as the Student Government Board to condemn hate speech.”
Brandon Bowman was walking home on the night of Sept. 27, as he has many times during his college career.
The University of Pittsburgh student has lived in South Oakland for three years. He described it as “an active college town” that attracts students from throughout the area.
He never felt unsafe in the neighborhood or was concerned about expressing his Judaism before the Friday night he was attacked.
Bowman said he walked past a group of people sitting outside a restaurant where food is served late at night.
“They saw my Jewish star,” he said. “I’m walking home with tunnel vision, not really interacting with people.”
One man in the group noticed his Star of David and, according to Bowman, made a nasty facial expression.
“He proceeds to say ‘F— the Jews,’ with a lot of hateful and antisemitic language,” Bowman said. “He said I looked Jewish and started saying offensive things about my identity and religion and Israel.”
Bowman said that rather than running away, he stood up for himself.
“I’m proud of my Judaism. I’m proud of my identity and religion,” he said.
The group proceeded to assault the Jewish student.
“It was a large group of individuals on the street,” Bowman said. “They began to punch me in the face and kick my body.”
While the physical assault was taking place, Bowan said the group continued to hurl antisemitic insults at him.
The attack stopped when a shop owner came out and broke up the assault.
“I’m very thankful that an an upstander was able to clear the commotion that was going on,” Bowman said. “He’s an old neighbor of mine, a shop owner I’ve known for several years. It took a lot of courage to do that.”
Bowman reported the incident to both the Pittsburgh police and the FBI. It is not yet known whether the suspects are Pitt students, and no arrests have been made.
Bowman said that he received calls from leaders of Pittsburgh’s Jewish community as well as the university, offering their support. And while he appreciates the sentiment and still feels safe on campus, he thinks both the city and university administration need to do more.
“I call on the school and the city to do more to combat antisemitism on campus,” he said, “as well as the Student Government Board to condemn hate speech.”
Bowman said he decided to share his story because he feels that it’s important to speak out against antisemitism, especially because of what’s been happening on college campuses since Oct. 7.
“I want every Jew to be proud,” he said, “and to wear their star. I have a sister who’s a sophomore in high school. I’m very concerned about her. I do not want her to hide her identity from anyone. I have a brother who is a freshman at the University of Maryland, where a federal court decided to let a large [anti-Israel] 10/7 demonstration occur. I don’t want him to hide from anyone. I want every Jew — whether it’s family, friends, college students, no matter who — I want them to wear their Judaica and not be afraid to hide in the face of adversity.”
Both the University of Pitt and Carnegie Mellon University have been the site of anti-Israel protests that have included antisemitic chants and rhetoric. Last summer, the Cathedral of Learning was the site of an unauthorized encampment and several altercations with police that led to the arrest and prosecution of protestors.
Last month, a friend of Bowman’s was one of two students attacked on Pitt’s campus by a man wearing a keffiyeh.
On Oct. 3, one day before Rosh Hashanah, a large banner was hung inside the Cathedral of Learning promoting an anti-Israel protest which began at the Carnegie Museum of Art. The banner was reportedly “guarded” by protestors so that it wouldn’t be removed.
According to Jared Stonesifer, senior director of external communications at Pitt, the banner was removed without issue as soon as the university was made aware of it.
“Those responsible were either referred to the Office of Student Conduct if they were a University affiliate or instructed that they are now prohibited from being on University property if they were not affiliated,” he said. PJC
David Rullo can be reached at drullo@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
comments