Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part I of a two part pancocojams series on protest chants, songs, and signage during President Trump's visit to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania after the Tree Of Life synagogue massacre October 27, 2018.
Part I features excerpts from some online articles that include examples of chants and signage from those protests.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/10/videos-of-protest-chants-signage-songs.html for Part II of this series. Part II showcases some videos of those protests.
Update: October 31, 2018: Part II also has information about some of the Jewish songs that are sung in some of those featured videos of this protest.
****
The content of this post is presented for historical, socio-cultural, and political purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
My condolences to the families and friends of all those who lost their lives in that massacre and my best wishes those who were injured in that massacre. Thanks to all who are quoted in this post.
****
This series is part of pancocojams series on protest chants. Click that "protest chant" tag for other pancocojams posts in this series. Also, use the pancocojams internal search engine or other search engines for pancocojams posts on African American protest chants.
****
ARTICLE EXCERPTS
Pancocojams Editor's Note:
The massacre at the Tree Of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania occurred in "Squirrel Hill", a mostly Jewish affluent neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on October 27, 2018. Eleven people lost their lives in that massacre and four people were injured.
**
These excerpts are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.
Excerpt #1:
From https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46038898, October 30, 2018
Pittsburgh shooting: Trump visits synagogue amid protests
[...]
"Why are there protests?
Critics accuse Mr Trump of fomenting a surge in white nationalist and neo-Nazi activity through divisive rhetoric which has seen him criticise immigrants and Muslims in particular.
Some Jewish figures and Pittsburgh's Democratic Mayor Bill Peduto opposed the presidential visit.
More than 70,000 people signed an open letter from Pittsburgh-based Jewish leaders saying that President Trump was "not welcome" in the city unless he "fully denounces white nationalism".
The top four Republican and Democratic congressional leaders declined a White House invitation to join Mr Trump in Pennsylvania.
The White House has rejected any blame over the attack.
[...]
Members of Pittsburgh's Jewish community were among about 2,000 demonstrators who held a protest, according to Reuters news agency.
As the president was driven through Pittsburgh, some bystanders made obscene gestures to his motorcade and thumbs-down gestures, reports AP news agency.
And Mr Trump arrived at the synagogue, demonstrators chanted "President Hate, leave our state" and "Words have meaning".
They held signs with such slogans as "We build bridges not walls"; "Trump, Renounce White Nationalism Now"; and "Trump's lies kill".
During the presidential visit, one protester holding a baby was seen by reporters calling out: "We didn't invite you here." "...
****
Excerpt #2:
From https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/10/30/1808598/-NO-PLACE-FOR-HATE-march-in-Squirrel-Hill-Pittsburgh-imagesNO PLACE FOR HATE march in Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh (images!); published by Yellow Canary; Tuesday October 30, 2018 · 9:58 PM EDT
"Today was a beautiful sunny fall day in Pittsburgh. The march started at the corner of Beechwood Blvd. and Forbes Ave. — about one-half mile from the Tree of Life Synagogue where the congregants were murdered. I live in Pittsburgh, about another half-mile on the other side of Tree of Life. Walking to the rally I arrived at Wilkens Avenue and found it had been secured by police. The synagogue was just a block away — the route I’d followed put me inside the secure area. There was a huge SWAT vehicle in front of the synagogue. Three police officers directed me away from the synagogue. Along Wilkens I stopped to photograph one of the many impromptu memorials that are now all over the area.
[...]
The march was lead by people holding banners with some of the text of the open letter to Mr. Trump — signed by tens of thousands — that Bend The Arc had published [The words as hyperlinks https://www.bendthearc.us/open_letter_to_president_trump]. The marchers began to sing a Hebrew song/prayer. It sounded like a lament. It was sung and re-sung during the entire march. The effect was moving and somber.
[...]
Once the marchers started moving, I was able to estimate the size of the crowd: about 2,000. Many carried signs:
[...]
We marched, we turned and headed towards the synagogue, but stopped after a couple of blocks. Word came down the line: “Turn your backs,” and then “Take a knee”. We didn’t know what was happening — and I couldn’t get any info from my cell phone/computer — but it wasn’t hard to figure that Mr. Trump or one of his entourage had, in fact, and against the wishes of the families of the murdered and the rabbis at the synagogue (one had welcomed Mr. Trump and then, after hearing from his congregants, rescinded his welcome), arrived at the synagogue. Pittsburgh turned its back on Mr. Trump (or his representatives); we knelt in the street until he/they were gone.
We marched a couple more blocks and stopped at an intersection just two blocks from Tree of Life. There, a shortened Jewish memorial service was held: a prayer, a cutting of a black ribbon, the holding aloft of pieces of cut black cloth (which many marchers had come with) while a prayer is sung.
After that the march turned onto a street parallel to Wilkens. It was soon to end. I took my sign and walked towards home, which included several blocks along 5th Avenue with its slowly-diminishing rush-hour traffic. Many drivers honked approval. Many more waved. Some rolled down their windows and gave me a thumbs-up. For a brief while, our world felt OK."
****
Excerpt #3
From https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-visits-tree-of-life-synagogue-amid-shouts-of-protesters ‘TRUMP GO HOME’ October 30, 2018
Trump Visits Tree of Life Synagogue Amid Shouts of Protesters
"President Trump arrived at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday afternoon to shouts and signs from protesters. Signs reportedly read “Trump Loves Nazis,” “Trump Go Home!,” and “Hate Isn’t Welcome Here.” Another sign read “All are Welcome” and urged the president to “stop encouraging hate.” Trump is visiting Pittsburgh along with first lady Melania Trump and White House advisers Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner. “We didn’t invite you here!” one man holding a baby shouted as the Trumps stopped by the synagogue. The president blamed the media for the country’s divisiveness one day after Robert Bowers stormed the house of worship, allegedly killing 11 people. Bowers posted an anti-Semitic rant shortly before the shooting, and witnesses said he shouted, “all Jews must die” upon entering the synagogue. Bowers had also criticized Trump for not being anti-Semitic enough.”...
****
Excerpt #4:
From https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/in-pittsburgh-the-president-and-his-protesters-mourn-shooting-victims In Pittsburgh, the president and his protesters mourn shooting victims; Oct 30, 2018 6:50 PM EDT
[...]
"Judy Woodruff:
Yamiche, you talked in your report about how divided the Pittsburgh community has been about the president's visit. And you said just behind you a few minutes ago there were protests.
Yamiche Alcindor:
Yes, just behind me a few minutes ago, hundreds of people gathered to protest President Trump coming to Pittsburgh. They say that the president hasn't displayed the empathy that other presidents displayed in the past, so they don't want him here.
There are people, of course, who welcome the president, but these protesters in particular said that President Trump's rhetoric contributed to what they see as a culture of violence in the country.
I should say that the protesters did chant or cheer for the first-responders as they walked by."...
****
Excerpt #5:
From https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/10/30/pittsburgh-synagogue-shooting-donald-trump-consoler-draws-protests/1820114002/ Anger, controversy follow Trump on visit to grieving Pittsburgh; John Fritze and David Jackson, USA TODAY Published 7:23 p.m. ET Oct. 30, 2018 | Updated 8:24 p.m. ET Oct. 30, 2018
[...]
"Even before he landed in Pittsburgh there were signs of tension. A group of Jewish leaders penned an open letter, signed by tens of thousands, indicating the president was not welcome in the city unless he firmly denounced white nationalists. Others, including Tree of Life Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, welcomed the president's visit.
As his motorcade wound through the city, most bystanders barely took notice. Some gave him a thumbs down, or stuck up their middle finger.
“We didn’t invite you here,” a man holding a baby shouted at the president.
Some cried “Leave Pittsburgh, leave Pennsylvania.” Others sang softly, or held signs that read "Stop Hate."...
****
Excerpt #6:
From https://www.yahoo.com/gma/funerals-11-synagogue-shooting-victims-begin-trump-heads-155006467--abc-news-topstories.html Trump greeted by protesters as he visits Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue
ABC News EMILY SHAPIRO, JORDYN PHELPS and BRIAN HARTMAN,ABC News 10/30/2018
[...]
"Thousands of people from all faiths, united in their anger, marched toward the synagogue.
Rev. Susan Rothenberg, a Presbyterian minister who lives down the street from the synagogue, was among those shouting and holding banners -- and she encouraged other neighbors, including children, to join her.
[...]
Cecilia Vega
✔
@CeciliaVega
As @realDonaldTrump visits the Tree of Life synagogue, neighbors nearby can be heard shouting “words have meaning”
5:05 PM - Oct 30, 2018" ....
****
Excerpt #7:
From https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-pittsburgh-synagogue-shooting-visit Trumps Don’t Get Typical Greeting From Local Officials During Pittsburgh Visit
By Zeke Miller, Allen G. Breed and Jonathan Lemire; October 30, 2018 5:29 pm
PITTSBURGH (AP)
[...]
"President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump paid solemn tribute Tuesday to each of the 11 people slain in the worst instance of anti-Semitic violence in American history. As the Trumps placed their remembrances outside the Tree of Life synagogue, protesters nearby shouted that the president was not welcome.
The Trumps first went inside the vestibule of the synagogue, where they lit candles for each victim before stepping outside. It was a marker of the political divisions roiling the nation in the aftermath of the Sabbath shooting that shouts of “Words matter!” and “Trump, go home!” could be heard from demonstrators gathered not far from where a gunman had opened fire on Saturday.”...
****
Excerpt #8:
From https://www.marketwatch.com/story/trump-met-with-protests-at-pittsburgh-synagogue-2018-10-30
The New York Post
Trump met with protests at Pittsburgh synagogue
Published: Oct 30, 2018 8:16 p.m. ET
"President, first lady pay respects to victims of Saturday’s mass shooting
President Donald Trump on Tuesday visited the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh to pay his respects to those killed in Saturday’s mass shooting — as hundreds of protesters swarmed the streets nearby.
The president and first lady Melania Trump briefly went inside to light candles for each of the 11 victims killed when a gunman opened fire on the congregation in the neighborhood of Squirrel Hill, CNN reported.
Trump — who was joined at the synagogue by daughter Ivanka Trump, son-in-law Jared Kushner, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer — then lay white roses and a stone from the White House for each victim at a memorial outside.
During their visit, protesters gathered a few blocks away, shouting, “Leave Pittsburgh, leave Pennsylvania,” and waving signs that read “Trump Go Home” and “Words matter.”
As Trump drove away, they chanted, “Make America peaceful again.”....
****
Excerpt #9
From https://www.yahoo.com/news/pittsburgh-comes-together-mourn-victims-protesters-turn-backs-trump-012912167.html Pittsburgh comes together to mourn victims, and protesters turn their backs on Trump, written by Christopher Wilson, October 20, 2018
[...]
"As Trump’s plane landed at Pittsburgh International Airport, protesters gathered at the corner of Forbes Avenue and Beechwood Boulevard, a few blocks from the synagogue. Many carried placards saying “I signed the letter,” referring to a petition asking Trump to stay away until he renounced white nationalism and stopped targeting minority populations. Other signs read “Words matter,” and specifically Pittsburgh references — “We do bridges not walls” — referring to the three rivers that run through the city, and an insult in the English-adjacent dialect known fondly as Pittsburghese (“Hey POTUS yinz a jagoff”).
The crowd swelled as hundreds began to march while singing psalms and moving through the tree-lined streets toward the Tree of Life on an idyllic, sun-drenched fall day. As the marchers stopped for a final ceremony to honor the victims, they were interrupted by the sirens of the White House motorcade, which cut through the crowd as organizers shouted “Turn your back.”
Afterward they continued the march, slowing to cheer and chant “Thank you” to first responders who were at a nearby fire hall. Some in the crowd ran over to shake hands and hug the officers. Trump’s time in Pittsburgh concluded with a visit to the UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Oakland and the officers who were injured in Saturday’s attack."...
-snip-
This article includes more background about Pittsburgh's reaction to the massacre, including the supportive actions of the Pittsburgh Steelers [award winning football team].
****
This concludes Part I of this two part series.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
As background, here's some information about Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's Jewish population (from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_Pittsburgh)
ReplyDelete"Jewish history of Pittsburgh, the second largest city in the state of Pennsylvania, United States, and the chief city of Western Pennsylvania. According to the 2002 Pittsburgh Jewish Community Study, "Jewish households represent 3.8% of the total number of households living in Allegheny County."[1] ...The city's Jewish federation is one of the oldest in the country, marking the deep historical roots of Jews in Pittsburgh.
[...]
Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood is considered to be the city's primary Jewish hub. Squirrel Hill has had a large Jewish population since the 1920s, when Jewish people began to move to the neighborhood in large numbers from Oakland and the Hill District. According to a 2002 study by the United Jewish Federation, 33% of the Jewish population of greater Pittsburgh live in Squirrel Hill, and another 14% in the surrounding area. The report states that "The stability of Squirrel Hill, a geographic hub of the Jewish community located within the city limits, is unique in North America." Squirrel Hill contains three Jewish day schools, catering to the Lubavich, Orthodox, and Conservative movements. There are over twenty synagogues. The Jewish community also offers four restaurants, a Jewish Community Center and an annual festival. It is estimated that one-fifth of the population of Squirrel Hill is Jewish."...
Also, as background, while watching videos of these protests, keep in mind the demographics for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Allegheny County (Pittsburgh being the largest city in that southwestern Pennsylvania county)
ReplyDeleteFrom http://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/pittsburgh-population/
"Pittsburgh Demographics [According to the 2010 Census]
"At the 2010 Census, the population of Pittsburgh consisted of:
White: 64.8%
Black or African American: 25.8%
American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2%
Asian: 4.4%
Other: 0.3%
Two or more races: 2.3%
Hispanic or Latino of any race: 2.3%
The largest white ancestry groups in Pittsburgh include: German (19.7%), Irish (15.8%), Italian (11.8%), Polish (8.4%) and English (4.6). The metropolitan area as a whole is 22% German, 21% Irish and 12% Italian. This means Pittsburgh has one of the largest Italian communities in the United States. It also has the largest Croatian community at over 200,000 and the 5th largest Ukranian population in the US."...
-snip-
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegheny_County,_Pennsylvania
[...]
"As of the 2010 census, there were 1,223,348 people residing in the county. The population density was 1676 people per square mile (647/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 82.87% White, 14.39% Black or African American, 2.94% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 1.40% from two or more races. About 1.31% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race"...
I shared these demographics of Pittsburgh (my adopted hometown since 1969) to partially explain the small number of People of Color who can be detected in these videos of the marches protesting Trumps' visit to Pittsburgh after the massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue.
DeleteBut along with those demographics, I believe that a contributing explanation is that -contrary to most of the articles I've read since that massacre- there's definitely considerable racism in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.
Click https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/tree-of-life-pittsburgh-hate-crimes-dulane-cameron_us_5bd86fcfe4b0dee6eece4017 10/30/2018 01:24 pm ET
"Synagogue Shooting Highlights History Of Hate In Pittsburgh"
By Christopher Mathias
"The city has seen other alleged hate crimes, including the killing of a black man less than three months ago."
-snip-
[This is the sentence after that article's title.]
Furthermore, my experience has been that not that much interracial interaction occurs in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.
DeleteIn Pittsburgh, there are a number of predominately Black -if not all Black- public schools and predominately White-if not all White public schools because the neighborhoods have those demographics.
Also, most of the private schools are predominately White because they are too expensive for Black families to afford (although there are scholarships)...
And although one's place of employment might be somewhat integrated, that doesn't necessarily mean that people socialize "across racial lines" outside of work.
Also, a lot of time there are few if any Black people (besides me and my family) at public downtown that we attend in downtown Pittsburgh or in neighborhoods/communities that aren't predominately Black.
I believe that this is partly because a number of Black people in Pittsburgh/Allegheny County don't like being the only ones [meaning "the only Black people"] at those events, including free public events.
I think that this relative lack of attendance by Black people at certain events-and not necessarily the protest that is the focus of this pancocojams series- isn't because we [Black people] aren't welcome, but more often because we don't feel comfortable with the probability that we would be the only Black people at these events.
I'm sure that there are other reasons why a lot of Black people don't attend certain downtown Pittsburgh events or events outside of predominately Black neighborhoods -I think not having a car and having to work multiple jobs may be factors for some.
However, I think that Black people not feeling comfortable around non-Black people may be overlooked as one reason for for this relative lack of Black attendance/participation at public events in Pittsburgh/Allegheny County and other areas that have similarly small numbers of non-White demographics.
The statement "Words matter" that is mentioned in a number of these articles and which is found in many of these protests' signs may have come from this recent quote from former Vice President Joe Biden:
ReplyDeleteFrom https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/words-leaders-matter-biden-scolds-trump-campaign-trail/story?id=58837229
"Taking the stage to chants of “Run Joe Run” in Youngstown, Ohio, Monday, former Vice President Joe Biden scolded President Donald Trump’s response to the attack in Pittsburgh while setting the stakes of the midterms for Ohio voters.
“Words matter,” Biden said. “Words from our leaders matter.” ”
Here's another excerpt from an article about the signage that was seen in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as a result of the massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue (Oct. 27, 2018)
ReplyDeleteFrom https://www.yahoo.com/news/pittsburgh-comes-together-mourn-victims-protesters-turn-backs-trump-012912167.html Pittsburgh comes together to mourn victims, and protesters turn their backs on Trump" by Christopher Wilson, October 30, 2018
"The tributes throughout the city were both large and small, as Pittsburghers sought ways to express their grief and solidarity. So many businesses had signs in their window that read “Our hearts cry for Shalom [Peace]” that it was surprising to come across one that didn’t. Sandwich boards usually used to announce the day’s specials were repurposed to offer condolences. The movie theater in the heart of town shifted its marquee, shoving the latest Ryan Gosling and Keira Knightley features down so they could spell out “PGH IS STRONGER THAN HATE.”"...
I just read this dailykos.com article & its comments: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/11/3/1809699/ Delusional-Trump-claims-riots-in-Pittsburgh-on-Tuesday-when-none-were-reported-by-anyone-anywhere
ReplyDeleteposted by annieli,
Saturday November 03, 2018 · 9:15 PM EDT
For the record, as a resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania I agree with this commenter [who I don't know but whose screen name indicates that he or she is also from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]
"B P Pgh November 03 · 10:27:09 PM
There were no riots in Pittsburgh on Tuesday"
-snip-
I would also add that the protests were peaceful.