Billboards thanking John Fetterman for his support of Israel are circling Pa. Society events in Manhattan this weekend

NEW YORK — LED trucks thanking Sen. John Fetterman for his support for Israel are driving around midtown Manhattan this weekend during Pennsylvania Society, the annual glitzy gathering of the state’s political establishment.

The digital billboards have a photo of Fetterman next to an Israeli flag and say, “Thank you Senator Fetterman!” The billboards include a quote from Fetterman saying, “I also fully support Israel neutralizing the terrorists responsible for this barbarism.”

The billboards are the effort of about a dozen Jewish people from around the country but mostly Pennsylvania, said Ari Mittleman, a former staffer for Sen. Bob Casey, who helped fund and organize the displays.

The group also paid to put up a series of billboards outside of Pittsburgh, including near Fetterman’s hometown of Braddock.

”I always found the two words not said enough in politics and Washington are ‘thank you,’” said Mittleman, who now lives in Maryland. ”It’s been a difficult seven weeks for the Jewish community and our allies — a lot of conversations over the Sabbath table and sleepless nights and in a lot of those conversations friends have brought up John Fetterman.”

Former Republican Senate candidate Jeff Bartos also helped organize the billboards. He said the group includes politically engaged people from both parties.

“I’m hearing from people in Israel and the United States and Pennsylvania who say, ‘Please tell him thank you,’” Bartos said.

The billboards come as Fetterman faces ongoing backlash for his outspoken support of Israel. He has been vocal about his stance on the Israel-Hamas war — putting up photos of Israeli hostages in his Senate office and saying he does not support a cease-fire.

Demonstrators, organized by the group Jewish Voice for Peace, have held several rallies outside of his offices in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C., calling on Fetterman to back a cease-fire. A supporter of the group renewed that call on Friday and rebuffed the billboards.

“These billboards certainly do not represent the perspective of a growing majority of Pennsylvanians, let alone the Jewish community of Pennsylvania,” said Dani Noble, a Jewish resident of Philadelphia. “Hundreds of Jews, all across the state, have protested at Senator Fetterman’s offices calling for his support for a permanent cease-fire. We blocked the road to his office in Philadelphia, we’ve put in thousands of calls to his office — we even made a giant Fetterman puppet. It’s past time that the Senator do a better job of representing the beliefs of his constituents, and support a lasting cease-fire to save lives.”

While some of Fetterman’s pro-Israel Democratic colleagues have changed their stances on the war as the death toll rises in Gaza, Fetterman has remained firm and highly visible on the issue. He wrapped himself in an Israeli flag at a march in D.C. and a video of him taunting Palestinian protesters as he waved an Israeli flag went viral last month.

Fetterman could not immediately be reached for comment. He appeared on The View in New York on Friday, and a spokesperson said he is attending some of the Pennsylvania Society events this weekend.

The annual gathering, where some of the most powerful politicians in the state all gather in Manhattan, has drawn many demonstrations in its 125 years.