What is a witch-hunt? When studying the history of witchcraft, it is important to understand that witchcraft was a crime created and imposed on innocent people. No individual actually had the power to cause hailstorms, spread mass disease, or fly through the night to a gathering of evil beings. This was a crime imposed on innocent people during times of mass fear and hysteria. While the legal prosecution of witchcraft came to an end in the eighteenth century, the pattern of behavior that caused witch-hunts can be identified throughout history and in the modern day.

The Salem Witch Museum’s mission is to be the voice of the innocent victims of the witch-hunt of 1692, while also bringing awareness to the root cause of witch-hunts and how they continue to impact our society today. In our second exhibit, Witches: Evolving Perceptions, we present a formula that can be used to describe the pattern of behavior responsible for sparking witch-hunts, with examples from 1692 through the twentieth-century.

This formula is “fear + a trigger = a scapegoat.”

A scapegoat is defined as a person who is unfairly or irrationally the object of blame.

Over the years, many of our visitors have made suggestions to our staff, offering examples of what they feel qualify as an instance of a witch-hunt. There are so many examples of witch-hunts that have taken place throughout history, that we couldn’t highlight all of these suggestions in our exhibit. Since August 2017, we have been asking our visitors to fill out this formula with examples they believe fit this pattern, and to submit these suggestions to our museum. This webpage is a place to share these examples. Within this project, our Department of Education is currently actively imputing and updating these pages so as to display as many submissions as we are given, in their entirety, without alteration or interpretation.

The goal of this project is to give our public a voice to interact with the concept of a witch-hunt. Please note, the views and opinions expressed on the witch-hunt website are those of our visitors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Salem Witch Museum.

You may view these examples month to month, or thematically by scapegoat. If you wish to add a submission, please enter your example into the blank spaces below.

Search Witch Hunts by Date

Submissions may be viewed month to month by selecting a date below.

Fear

Trigger

Scapegoat

Supernatural

Religion

Witches

Anonymous , Salem, MA / December 6, 2024

Sickness

COVID-19 Pandemic

Asian Communities

Courtney , FL / December 2, 2024

Loss of National Identity

Influx of Immigrants

Immigrant Communities

Abbie , Canada / December 2024

Economy

Trump

Immigrants

Tom , ID / December 2024

Accountability

Gospel Preaching

Bible-Believing Christians

Sonny , TN / December 1, 2024

Chinese People

COVID-19

Asian Americans

Brandon , ID / November 2024

Lack of Control Over Kids

Opportunistic Politicians

Trans People/Anti-Trans Laws

Leo , OH / November 2024

UFO Panic in America

Senate Committee Hearing

Innocent Citizens

Lily Rose , Washington D.C. / November 30, 2024

Minority Religions and Cultures

Economic Instability

Jewish People

Alainie , MA / November 2024

Being Judged

Social Media/Cancel Culture

Influencers/People Posting

Marie , MA / November 27, 2024

Jews Taking Over Germany

Hitler

Jewish People

Aden , Germany / November 26, 2024

Israel's Occupation of Palestine

Protests Against Israel and Palestinian Genocide

Non-Israeli Jews Antisemitism

Anonymous , VA / November 26, 2024

Loss of Women's Rights

Politics

Trump

Rebekah , VA / November 26, 2024

Loss of Interest in Religion

Hateful Government

Women Seeking Abortions

Savannah , IL / November 2024

Fall of Germany

Hitler's Rise to Power

Jewish People

Rebekah B. , Yorktown, VA / November 26, 2024

Democracy

Donald Trump

Minorities

Karen , MA / November 2024

Immigrants/Minorities/Being Elevated Over White Men

Trump

Anyone But White Men

Kim , CT / November 2024

Losing

LeBron Leaving Cavaliers

LeBron James

Justin , GA / November 20, 2024

Immigrants/Education/Economy

Higher Egg Prices

Anybody Not A White Male

Kelly , CT / November 2024

Palestinian Occupation

Israeli Government

Palestinians-Genocide & Ethnic Cleansing

Vanan , CA / November 2024

Death

COVID-19

Non-Vaccinated

Anonymous , MA / November 2024

Indoctrination

Trump

LGBTQ+ (Trans Folks)

Joanna , MD / November 2024

Losing Rights

Donald Trump

LGBTQ+

Teddy , MO / November 2024

Disease

COVID-19

Chinese People

Chloe , England / November 2024

Terrorism

9/11

Muslims

Dominic , MO / November 2024

God/Devil

Trump

Drag Queens/LGBTQ+

Shelby , TX / November 2024

Homophobia

Trump

LGBTQ+

Anonymous , USA / November 22, 2024

Robberies

BLM

Black People

George , Chicago, IL / November 21, 2024

Crime/Recession/Bad Economy

Influx of Asylum Seekers

Immigrants

Emily , IN / November 2024

Inflation

Immigration

Trump/MAGA Blame Hispanics and Gay/Trans Population

Anonymous , MA / November 2024

Erasing the White Race

Political Bids

Immigrants

Anonymous , MA / November 2024

Changing Culture

Donald Trump

Immigrants

Gabrielle , CA / October 2024

Global Pandemic

COVID-19 Infections

Asians/Unvaccinated

Kelly , QC / October 2024

Unknown

Diversity

HOA's/Redlining

Kara , IL / November 2024

Immigration

Economy

Education

Rachel , MA / November 2024

Migration

Poverty

Foreign Born

Valeria , Wasco / November 19, 2024

Extremism

Government Decisions

Jehovah's Witnesses

Russia , Russia / November 19, 2024

Discrimination

Racism

Black People

Anonymous , Wasco / November 19, 2024

Big, Scary Dogs

Getting Bit

Any Fat Dog

Brandon , Wasco / November 19, 2024

War

Israel-Palestinian Conflict

Israeli Military

Serenity , CA / November 19, 2024

Satanic Practice

The Gay Agenda

LGBTQA+

Yahaira , CA / November 19, 2024

Lack of Control

Abortion Rights/Bodily Autonomy

Women/Female-Bodied People

Sara , NJ / November 2024

Grades

Failing

Teachers

Nathan , CA / November 18, 2024

Suicide Rates Going Up

Record Number of Deaths/High Mental Health Issues

Anyone With Mental Disabilities

K. , NJ / November 18, 2024

Police Brutality

Goerge Floyd

Police Man

Roman , CA / November 18, 2024

Mass Migration

Mass Exodus From Cuba

Immigrants

Valeria , US / November 18, 2024

White Culture Being Forgotten

Donald Trump

Immigrants and POC

Alexis , NY / November 2024

Loss of Privilege

Wars/Geopolitical Unrest

Immigrants

Kathleen , MA / November 2024

Deportation

Non-English Speakers

Immigrants

Anonymous , MA / November 2024

Strong, Independent Women

JD Vance

Childless Cat Ladies

Kristin , CT / November 2024

Crime

Trump

(Im)migrants

Marc , CT / November 2024

War

Terrorists

Palestine

Anonymous , MA / November 15, 2024

Women's Right to Choose

Body Health of Women

Women

Markeida , USA / November 15, 2024

Guns

Mass School Shootings

People With Mental Illness

Roman , CA / November 15, 2024

People's Children Being Gay

Homophobes

Gay People

Anonymous , NO / November 13, 2024

Nuclear Weapons

Arabs

Iraq War

Francisco , Mexico / November 2024

Arabs

9/11

Muslims and Arabs

Sarah , RI / November 2024

COVID

Pandemic

Chinese Population

Jordyn , ND / November 12, 2024

WW3

Russia/Nukes

Cuba

TZ , MA / October 22, 2024

Communism

Senator Joseph McCarthy-McCarthyism

Listed "Communist"-USSR

Jordan , ME / November 12, 2024

War

Russia

NATO

Murphy , MA / November 10, 2024

Overturning Roe V. Wade

Trump Re-Elected

Forced Birth, Women Dead

Emily , ME / November 11, 2024

AI

AI Becomes Advanced Enough to Support Itself

AI Might Hack Into All Electronic Devices and Take Over

Ethan , MN / November 11, 2024

Infectious Disease

COVID-19

Chinese/Asians

Yasmin , MN / November 11, 2024

Police Brutality

Police

Black People

Devin , MN / November 11, 2024

People With Mental Illness

A Rare Number of Violent Crimes

All People With Mental Illness

Jake , MN / November 11, 2024

Mass Migration

Mass Deportation

Migrants

Anonymous , MA / November 2024

Wokeness

Trump

Democracy

Abby , MA / November 2024

Processed Meat

Organic/Homestead TikTok

Hot Dogs

Steph , FL / November 9, 2024

People Who Are Different/Equality

Seth Moulton's Transphobic Comments

Trans Children

Anonymous , MA / November 8, 2024

Loss of Basic Human Rights

Trump

USA Citizens

Tanya , Canada / November 2024

Terroism

9/11

Muslims

Riley , ND / November 7, 2024

Aliens

Spread of False Information About Housing Aliens in Area 51

Government Officials and Workers

Eric , NV / November 7, 2024

Alien Invasion

Spread of Information

Government Workers

Finn , NV / November 7, 2024

Loss of Power/Minorities

Donald Trump

Immigrants/Liberals

Wendy , KY / November 2024

Poverty

Inflation and Plummeting Birthrates

Pregnant Women and Childless Women

Emilie , NY / November 6, 2024

Crime and Migrants

Donald Trump

Migrants

Donna , NC / November 5, 2024

AI Taking Over the World

Robots Replacing Jobs

Elon Musk

Merv , Manchester, NH / November 4, 2024

Losing White Majority

M.A.G.A.

Immigrants

Christopher , Greenfield / November 4, 2024

Tests

Frau Begert

Alle Lösungen

Baum , MIA / November 4, 2024

Israeli Occupation of Palestine

Palestinian Resistance

Palestinians

Amy , CA / November 3, 2024

COVID-19/War/Ideologies

Media

Asians

Dylan , MA / November 2, 2024

Muslims

9/11 Attacks

All Muslims

Jennifer , VA / October 2024

Essay

Grades

Teacher

Nick , CA / October 31, 2024

COVID-19

People Eating

Asians and Bats

Anonymous , NC / October 31, 2024

Terroism

9/11

Muslims

Witch Hunt , Kaydence, CA / October 31, 2024

Assassination of Sergi Kirov

Fear of Factionalism

Great Purge of the USSR

Christopher , UK / October 2024

Terrorists

Muslims

All Muslims

Anonymous , NY / October 30, 2024

LGBTQ Influence

Politics

LGBTQ Citizens

ZA , MA / October 30, 2024

Guns

School Shootings

Mental Illness

Nahya , MA / October 30, 2024

Losing Profit From Oil Pipeline

Oil Pipeline

Native Americans and Their Reservations

Ashley , MA / October 30, 2024

Drowning

Deep and Dark Water

The Ocean

Jaclyn , WA / October 30, 2024

Terrorism

9/11

Muslims

Anel , NY / October 30, 2024

Free Exchange Improves Living Standards Without Leftist Intervention

Communists

Providers of Goods and Services

Anonymous , MA / October 29, 2024

Violence

Ignorance

We the People

Franke , TX / October 29, 2024

Loss of Power/Fragile Masculinity

Women/Gay/Trans Rights Accepted

Trans People

Ace , MA / October 2024

Ancient Jewish Claims To Judea Documented Thoroughly

Israeli Success

Jews

Anonymous , MA / October 29, 2024

Police Brutality

BLM

Police (All Are Bad)

Anonymous , NC / October 29, 2024

Immigrants

Trump

Democrats

Brian , Nashua, NH / October 29, 2024

People With Mental Illness

A Rare Number of Violent Crimes

All People With Mental Illness

Samantha , NE / October 28, 2024

Threat of Communism in Germany

The Rise of the Nazi Party

Jewish People

Ciaran , England / October 2024

Blackmail/Trafficking

Diddy

People On the Freak Off List

Riley , ME / October 25, 2024

Collapse of America

MSNBC, CNN, and Other False News Organizations

Donald Trump

Anonymous , NY / October 25, 2024

Terrorism

9/11

Muslims

Kaydence , CA / October 25, 2024

COVID-19

Chaos

Chinese Population/Hate Crimes

Cindy , NY / October 2024

COVID-19

Quarantine

Asian People/Population

Erin , FL / October 2024

Dog Attacks

Big, Untrained Dogs Attacking People

Big Dogs

Garrett , VT / October 24, 2024

The Loss of WWI

Adolf

Jews and Other Groups

Alex , VT / October 24, 2024

Police Brutality

BLM

Police (All Are Bad)

Courtney , NC / October 24, 2024

Drug Usage

Vietnam

Mentally Disturbed

Peyton , NC / October 24, 2024

Homophobes

Femboys

LGBTQ+

Zoey , VT / October 24, 2024

Crime

Donald Trump

Migrants

Donna , NC / October 2024

A Different Political Agenda

Kamala Harris

Non-White, Female Politicians

Jenn , IN / October 2024

Loss of Gendered Norms/Trans People

Black Women Winning Gold Metals

Transgender People/Anyone Who Isn't "Woman Enough"

Jill , Alberta, Canada / October 2024

Trump

Stoking Fear of Immigrants

Immigrant Mass Deportation

Kelly , OR / October 2024

Terrorists

Media

Arabs

Jessica , France / Ocotber 2024

Terrorism

September 11, 2001

Increased Discrimination of Muslim and Arab People

Jake , NC / October 23, 2024

Race/Communism/Disloyalty/Wealth

Hitler Becomes Chancellor

Jewish People Worldwide Even Today

Erika , MA / October 2024

Economic Loss

Violent Crime

Immigrants

Courtney , TX / October 2024

Crimes From Illegal Immigrants

Donald Trump/Republicans

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris

Marjorie , MA / October 2024

Harming Children

Gender Identity

Trans People

Gabi, Jackie, Clarisa , IL / October 2024

Hyperinflation In Germany

The Aftermath of WWI

Jewish Holocaust

Tanna , NSW, Australia / October 2024

Terrorism

9/11

Muslims/Arabs

Jasmine , Quebec, Canada / October 2024

Tightness

Round Dodging Eyre Square 1988 Paddy’s Stag

Cavan People

Mary , Kingscount, Cavan, IRE / October 23, 2024

Israel's War On Hamas

High Number of Palestinian Casualties

Non-Israeli Jews (US and Global)

Sarah , TX / October 23, 2024

Grooming of Kids

Hate-Talk From Transphobes

Transgender Teens and Children

Lori , LA / October 22, 2024

Terrorism

9/11

Islam

Madison , IL / October 2024

Change

Prejudice/Bigotry

Trump

Sheila , KY / October 2024

Death

School Shootings

Guns

Anonymous , Denton, TX / October 22, 2024

Trans People

Far-Right Leaning People

The LGBTQAI Community

Jennifer , Tucson, AZ / October 21, 2024

Crime

Immigration

Undocumented People/Mexican Population

Stephanie , GA / October 21, 2024

COVID-19/Sickness

CDC

Humans/Masks/Lockdown

Melanie , SC / October 2024

Loss of Power

Nazi Party

Jewish People

Natasha , MD / October 21, 2024

Death

COVID

Chinese

Anonymous , MA / October 2024

Religious Differences

Different Interpretations

Mormons (LDS)

Tori , TX / October 2024

Democracy

Trump

MAGA

Robert , WI / October 2024

The Owl House Not Fitting the Disney Brand

Shifting to a Film Instead of a Full Season

Dana Terrace and The Owl House

Jeffrey , CA / October 20, 2024

Losing Jobs/Opportunities

Recession/Hate Talk By Politicians

Immigrants

Nicole , NY / October 2024

Sexual Assault

Far-Right Misinformation

Transgender People

Madison , IL / October 2024

Economy and Immigration

Trump/Vance

Haitians

Kathy , NC / October 2024

Not Fitting Public Standards

"Famous" by Kanye West

Taylor Swift

Teagan , NJ / October 18, 2024

Fear of Religious Extremism

King Charles 1st Persecution

The Puritans

Zack , WA / October 18, 2024

Getting Caught

Myrtle's Death

Jay Gatsby

Rebecca , NJ / October 18, 2024

Diseases and Death

Black Death

Random Old Lady

Lizard , FL / October 18, 2024

Global Warming

Melting Glaciers and Ice Caps

Gas Car Companies

Bob , NJ / October 18, 2024

Enslavement

Gold Hungry Spanish

Natives: "They Were Simple and Plain Men"

Ethan , WA / October 18, 2024

America's Downfall

Immigration

Haitians

Chris , RI / October 2024

Freedom

Strict Racial Barriers

African People

Emily , WA / October 18, 2024

Terrorism

9/11

American Muslims

Kacen , TX / October 18, 2024

Terrorism

9/11

Muslims

Alex , NJ / October 18, 2024

COVID-19

CDC, Government, WHO

The Unvaccinated

Melissa , Pittsburgh, PA / October 18, 2024

Genocide

Israel

Palestine

Anonymous , Gaza, Palestine / October 17, 2024

Islamophobia/Islam

9/11

Arab Americans and Muslims

Dustin , ID / October 2024

No Political Control

Lord Proprietor

Governor

Jack , WA / October 17, 2024

Shipwreck

Hurricane

Europeans

Erayleas , WA / October 17, 2024

Rebellion and Insubordination

Increased Number of African Slaves

African Slaves

Jaslyn , WA / October 17, 2024

Satanic Panic

Death/Murder

West Memphis Three

Dakota , NY / October 17, 2024

Losing Control

Establishing Religion and Economic Dominance

Exploitation of Indigenous

Gloria , WA / October 17, 2024

COVID-19

Disease Being Transmitted On Chinese Boat

Chinese People Hate

Alexa , AL / October 16, 2024

Terrorism

9/11

Islamic People

Guy , London, England / October 2024

Terrorist

9/11

Muslims

Anonymous , Afghanistan / October 16, 2024

Exploitation

Colonization

Native Americans

Caprice , WA / October 16, 2024

African-Americans Treated As Animals

Slave Trade

African-Americans

Damian , WA / October 16, 2024

Criticism

Exploitation of Gold

Religion

Brandon , WA / October 16, 2024

Indigenous People

Spain Wanting Religious and Economic Dominance In the New World

Religion

Izabella , WA / October 16, 2024

Indigenous People

Resistance from Indigenous People

Indigenous People

Mareli , WA / October 15, 2024

Terrorism

9/11 Attacks

Muslims

Vincent , PA / September 18, 2024

Illness

Plague

Jews

Illness , MA / October 2024

Women Getting Ahead

Misogyny From Men

All Women

Anonymous , VA / October 15, 2024

Gays Taking Over the World

Gay/Trans People

Humans

Caroline , PA / October 14, 2024

Inflation/Economic Hardship

Pandemic

Immigrants

Divine , MA / October 14, 2024

Not Getting Into Heaven

Neolin’s Religious Message

Europeans

Adrianna , WA / October 14, 2024

Ocean

Sharks

Not Going In Ocean Because of Sharks

Ocean , Addison, Utah / October 14, 2024

Failing To Conquer the New World

Chesapeake Indians Attacking English

Native Americans/Indians

Alexis , WA / October 14, 2024

Replacement

American Far Right (Trump)

Immigrants

Anonymous , MA / October 2024

Women's Equal Rights

US Women Suffrage Movement

Women

Doleen , WA / October 14, 2024

Kamala Harris Being President

Democrats

Humans

Caroline , PA / October 14, 2024

Loss of Security/Lifestyle

Divorce

Women

Katherine , CA / October 12, 2024

Ocean

Sharks

Not Going in Ocean Because Sharks

King , MN / November 11, 2024

Getting Ill

A Very Small Percentage of Bad Reaction to Vaccines

Vaccines/Corporation/Government

Lucian , NY / October 10, 2024

The Holocaust

Nazi Ideas

Jewish People

Ethan , NY / October 10, 2024

Too Many Bombs for Disney

Acolyte Bombing

Fans of Star Wars

Devon , CT / October 9, 2024

Being A Popular Rapper or Singer

Death

Diddy

Johnathan , LA / October 9, 2024

COVID-19 Sickness

CDC

Humans, Masks, Lockdown

Melanie , SC / October 9, 2024

Terrorism

September 11, 2024

Discrimination of Arab and Muslim People

Morgan , MA / October

Disorder/Anarchy

Jan 6th or ANTIFA

Protestors

Luxthea , OR / October 9, 2024

I'll Be Broke

Increasing Prices

Kamala Harris/Biden

Bob , RI / October 8, 2024

Terrorists

911 Attacks

Racism Against Muslims

Shelly , NV / October 2024

Inflation

Money

Biden

Franke , KS / October 8, 2024

Accepting Your Own Mediocrity and Failures

Inflation Over 20+ Years, Poor Job Prospects, Expensive Children, Living Beyond Your Means, Poor Education

Blaming Everyone and Everything for Your Personal Struggles

Michelle , NYC / October 8, 2024

Deforestation

Climate Change

Government

Anonymous , CT / October 7, 2024

Loss of Traditional Values

Social Media

Immigrants/LGBTQIA+/Any Disadvantaged Group

E. Robbins , Cheyenne, WY / October 7, 2024

Global Pandemic

COVID-19

Asians/Unvaccinated

Kelly , QC / October 2024

God

Abortion

Women

Nic , GA / October 6, 2024

Trump

Inadequacy

MAGA

Jim , CA / October 2024

Changing Culture

Donald Trump

Immigrants

Gabrielle , CA / October 2024

Controversial Ideas, Freedom of Speech

Anti-Intellectualism

Academia and Science

Daniel , PA / October 5, 2024

Terrorism

September 11, 2001

Increased Discrimination of Arab+Muslim People

Morgan , MA / October 2024

Getting Abused

Yelling and Fighting

Men

Delilah , TN / October 4, 2024

Terrorists

911 Attacks

Racism Against Muslims

Shelly , NV / October 2024

Submit a Witch Hunt

Scapegoat
Example: for Massachusetts, put in MA