Mr. Rogers Sits Sadly With Pittsburgh Synagogue Logo In Steelers Colors
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
Mister Rogers was a neighbor of Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill, where a mass shooting took the lives of 11 at prayer in a local synagogue. With one drawing, an artist effectively summed up how he would — and many do — feel in the wake of the tragedy.
Artist Sasha Phillips drew a photo of Fred Rogers, host of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” slumped over in his seat, his face anguished. He wears his classic knit sweater, and below him is the train that would go round and round in his beloved show, which promoted peace and love. Behind him is the symbol of the synagogue, Tree of Life Congregation, with the iconic triad of colors of the Pittsburgh Steelers’s logo.
Just found this on Facebook. ???. The artist is Sasha Phillips. If she is on here, this is sadly beautiful. I imagine this is how Mr. R looks right about now. #PittburghStrong #MrRodgers #NoHate pic.twitter.com/fxa7eWtDQH
— Ali J Pittsburgh Girl♥️?? (@AliMaholic) October 29, 2018
Rogers raised his family just a few block away from the synagogue, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto said on NBC’s Today Show.
“We’re holding Squirrel Hill in our thoughts today,” The Fred Rogers Center said in a Facebook post on Saturday, the day of the shooting. “Fred Rogers lived there for many years and worked in neighboring Oakland. While we always believe in ‘looking for the helpers,’ we long for a day when there is no more tragedy born from hatred.”
Graphics have been an important part of the mourning process. The Steelers, a city staple, added a Star of David to its logo, next to the words “Stronger Than Hate.” It summed up the city’s unity with the Jewish community.
Alyssa Fisher is a news writer at the Forward. Email her at [email protected], or follow her on Twitter at @alyssalfisher
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover. All donations are being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
