SWC Applauds Death Penalty Sentencing of Tree of Life Synagogue Shooter

August 2, 2023

The Simon Wiesenthal Center welcomes the decision by a Pittsburg jury to impose the death penalty on Robert Bowers for perpetrating the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in US history. Entering the Tree of Life synagogue on 27 October 2018, Bowers systematically killed 11 Jewish worshippers and wounded six others.

Bowers was found guilty on 63 federal counts in June, including 11 counts of obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death. 

The judge will formally impose the sentence at a hearing on Thursday, August 3, when families of some victims are expected to address the court.

“Bowers was a domestic terrorist who perpetrated the largest slaughter of Jewish worshippers in American history. This terrorist was validated and emboldened by others on social media. His just and legal conviction, sentencing, and execution, will send a clear message to tomorrow’s potential killers of innocents in their houses of worship in our country that such extremists will be held fully accountable under the laws of our democracy for any such heinous acts,” stated SWC Associate Dean and Director of Global Social Action, Rabbi Abraham Cooper.

For further information, please email Michele Alkin, Director of Global Communications at malkin@wiesenthal.com or Shawn Rodgers at srodgers@wiesenthal.com, join the Center on Facebook, or follow @simonwiesenthal for news updates sent directly to your Twitter feed.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is an international Jewish human rights organization. It holds consultative status at the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the OAS, and the Latin American Parliament (PARLATINO).