Gov. Josh Shapiro condemns attack at Michigan synagogue as ‘unacceptable’
"We must remember that we are not helpless in the face of the rising antisemitism and hate around us,“ Shapiro said after an attack on a Michigan synagogue.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro condemned a Thursday attack on a Michigan synagogue and offered prayers to the Jewish community in the state.
“We must remember that we are not helpless in the face of the rising antisemitism and hate around us,“ Shapiro said in a post to X that called the attack a ”reminder of the challenges we face as a country.
“We must speak and act with moral clarity and condemn attacks on any houses of worship across our country. All citizens have a responsibility to do this hard and necessary work.”
Shapiro’s comments came shortly after a man armed with a rifle drove into Temple Israel in the suburbs of Detroit. The man’s car caught fire and he was fatally shot by security at the synagogue.
Just one person, a security guard, was injured.
In his post Shapiro said he was praying for the Michigan Jewish community and had reached out to Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to thank her for her leadership.
The two Democratic governors have previously joined each other on the campaign trail and Shapiro hosted Whitmer at an Eagles game last year.
Shapiro, who is Jewish, has consistently condemned acts of religious and political violence.
He was attorney general a mass shooter killed 11 people at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh.
Shapiro and his family personally experienced political and antisemitic violence last year when an arsonist set fire to the governor’s residence in Harrisburg as they slept after celebrating a Passover seder.
On Tuesday, Shapiro offered support to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani after an attempted terrorist attack outside Gracie Mansion in Manhattan.
The Associated Press contributed.