HARRISBURG — Sen. Chris Gebhard (R-48) called on Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday to investigate patterns of organized and targeted political violence toward Pennsylvanians in a letter today.
“Over the past few years, our commonwealth and nation have been rocked by consistent politically motivated acts of violence, which violate the rule of law and our sacred democratic principles,” Gebhard said. “We must do more to protect our citizens and government officials who are simply trying to perform their duties. The recent targeted attack of two National Guardsman in our nation’s capital is the latest example of this violence.”
The letter outlines the rise in antisemitism and targeted acts of violence against federal officials and conservative-leaning organizations in recent years, with the most visible tragedies being the assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University and the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Following the horrific crimes committed by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, there has been an unprecedented increase in violations against the civil rights of Jewish residents and students in the commonwealth. According to the Anti-Defamation League, antisemitic incidents increased by more than 300% from 2022 to 2024.
Also reviewed was the troubling rise in violent attacks against immigration enforcement officers. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently reported an 830% increase in assaults against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers compared to the previous year. There have also been organized efforts to release personal information of ICE officers and their families, also known as doxxing, putting them at risk from criminal organizations.
The letter also discussed how two pro-life organizations in Philadelphia were attacked after the Supreme Court’s decision in Jackson Women’s Health Organization v. Dobbs.
Gebhard specifically requested that Attorney General Sunday investigate funding sources and financial networks and review existing intelligence regarding organizations linked to political violence. He also requested enhanced protective measures for ICE personnel and community members.
Gebhard has introduced Senate Bill 1021 to strengthen penalties for criminals who commit offenses against federal immigration enforcement officers and agents operating in Pennsylvania.
“The safety of our law enforcement personnel, the protection of civil rights and the integrity of our democratic institutions depend on swift and thorough action,” Gebhard said.
VIDEO: Sen. Chris Gebhard discusses the rise in political violence and his commitment to holding violent actors accountable. View the transcript here.
CONTACT: Alex Gamble