Reggie Jackson condemns Pennsylvania antisemitism by citing 1960s racial segregation
The baseball Hall of Famer shared ADL data on 465 incidents in the state and urged local officials to speak out against hatred.
By Larissa Bell ·
Reggie Jackson, a baseball Hall of Famer, called for public action against antisemitism in Pennsylvania on Saturday. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he compared current anti-Jewish sentiment in the state to the racism he endured in the American South during the 1960s. Jackson specifically addressed Philadelphia leaders and elected officials, urging them to clearly oppose hatred directed at Jewish people.
The former athlete cited data from the Anti-Defamation League to support his claims. The ADL documented 465 antisemitic incidents across Pennsylvania in 2024. Of those, 189 occurred in Philadelphia. Another 51 were recorded in Montgomery County, the location of Wyncote, the town where Jackson grew up. He presented these local and statewide numbers as proof that the issue is a concrete concern in his hometown.
Jackson expressed strong personal feelings about the statistics. He described himself as "angry and ashamed to see hatred tolerated there." His post linked the recorded incidents to a wider acceptance of prejudice. He argued that local authorities need to provide a clear and consistent public response to the situation.
The post also referenced ADL reports on the Jewish American community. Those reports indicate that a majority of Jewish Americans worry about antisemitism and their personal safety. Jackson included these sentiments in his criticism of how antisemitism affects the people it targets.
He extended his analysis to the psychological impact of hate. Jackson cited a research review that connected exposure to hate with poorer psychological well-being. The review also noted increased negative stereotypes and diminished trust between different groups. He used these findings to argue that the effects of hatred are serious and far-reaching.
To draw his comparison with the 1960s, Jackson recalled specific memories of segregation. He mentioned segregated bathrooms and drinking fountains. He also remembered signs stating that Black people could be denied service. He connected these personal memories of racism to the current reports of pervasive antisemitism.
"I remember what that hatred looked and felt like," Jackson wrote. "We cannot accept it in any form, directed at any people." He concluded his post by asking Philadelphia’s leaders to speak out plainly. He urged them to condemn antisemitism publicly and make clear that neither antisemitism nor hatred belongs in their communities.
