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
Gun Violence
School Shootings
"Mental Illness"
Grace , GA / January 14, 2022
Covid
lot of cases
Teachers
Roper , MA / January 05, 2022
histeria over autism
Andrew Wakefeild's BS study
Autistic people
Anonymous , everywhere / January 03, 2022
Gen Z Not Being a Successful Generation
Too Much Social Media/Phones
Technology Is Harmful
Mendez , Chicago / January 01, 2022
Japan/War
Pearl Harbor
Japanese Americans
Kiana , IL / December 28, 2021
Sexual Harassment
me too movement
feminists
Dilorina , COOK / December 27, 2021
college acceptance
society's pressure
collegeboard
Anonymous , IL / December 26, 2021
Sexuality
People Taking Charge of Their Sexuality
Women
Ari , IL / December 25, 2021
COVID 19
Government saying people need to get vaccinated
Unvaccinated People
Levi , Chicago / December 15, 2021
white old men
white old men in power
Donald Trump
Grace , Connecticut / December 14, 2021
Not Enough Teachers
Art being cut from schools
Principals
Nathan , TN / December 14, 2021
Guns
violence
liberals
Anonymous , North Dakota / December 13, 2021
death
Covid-19
unvaccinated
Kelly , Uncasville, CT / December 13, 2021
ww2
hitler
jews
Joe , RI / December 10, 2021
women deprived of abortion
texas
governor greg abbott
Anonymous , millie MA / December 10, 2021
paying $7 a gallon
gas prices jacked
joe biden
Anonymous , Wi / December 09, 2021
WW2
Invasion of Poland
German People
Quincy , TN / December 09, 2021
POC standing up for themselves
white women tears
POC
Andrea , IL / December 08, 2021
Gun violence
shootings
Black community
Gabriel , California / December 07, 2021
Climate Change
Carbon Emmissions
Politicians
Chloe , TN / December 06, 2021
vaccine
covid 19
Government
Nevaeh , CA / December 02, 2021
covid-19
getting sick of covid
Asians or Chinese people
Lola , ca / November 30, 2021
COVID
Media
Donald Trump
Chris , MA / November 30, 2021
Gun Violence
Teenagers Being Bullied
video games
Anonymous , A, NY / November 29, 2021
The United States not being a Christian nation
Prayer taken out of schools
Liberals
Gail , Connecticut / November 25, 2021
Covid
Rise in covid cases
Asian Americans
Lucia , CA / November 19, 2021
EA Sports
Madden
Colin Kaepernick
Jack , OH / November 16, 2021
Domestic violence Extremism
Kenosha shooting
Kyle Rittenhouse
Jose , CA / November 16, 2021
Qing States
Chinese-Taiwan Annexation
China
Anonymous , Beijing, China / November 15, 2021
Bad Grades
Test/Projects
Teachers
Elijah , Payton, MA / November 12, 2021
Gang Violence
Drugs/Guns
Rap Music
Elijah , Peter, MA / November 12, 2021
Gen Z Attitude
Phones
Technology Bad
Elijah , MA / November 12, 2021
Heart Attacks
Fast Food
Fast Food Chains
Elijah , MA / November 12, 2021
Titans
Endangerment of humanity
Eldians
Eren , Attack on Titan / November 10, 2021
Following U.S. laws and regulations
Liberals
Trump
M , NY / November 10, 2021
Gang Violence
drugs,guns
Rap Music
Peter , MA / November 2021
Gun violence
School shootings
Gun owners
McGregor , MA / November 2021
guns
gun violence
video games
Brent , MA / November 03, 2021
Covid-19
Mandating the vaccine
People who got the vaccine
Savannah , MA / November 03, 2021
Bad grades
tests/projects
teachers
Payton , MA / November 03, 2021
Death
COVID-19
Government
Matt , MA / November 03, 2021
Police Brutality
George floyd
Police
Gavin , MA / November 03, 2021
Disease From Asia
Coronavirus
Asians
Anonymous , MA / November 2021
Same sex flirting with you
Homophobia
Gay People
Kendall , MI / November 03, 2021
Satan Worshiping and Rock Music
Rock and Roll Music
Rock and Roll Artist
Music , MA / November 2021
Terrorism
9/11
Muslims
Lillian , Melrose, MA / November 02, 2021
Death/Sickness
COVID/Vaccinations
Un-Vaccinated People
Casey , PA / October 2021
Economic Crisis In Germany after WWII
Hitler Rising to Power
Jewish People
Jason, Meredith, Fatma , MA / October 29, 2021
Unexplained happenings
Bad luck
Black cats
Tiana , NY / October 28, 2021
Pandemic
Coronavirus
Asian Americans
Sarah , MA / October 26, 2021
Disability
Autistic children
Vaccines
James , California / October 25, 2021
communists
Russian revolution
Immigrants
Palmer , U.S / October 25, 2021
Obesity
Fatphobia
Skinny people
Jake , CA / October 21, 2021
Challenging social mores
Strong Women
Women with property
Grace , NH / October 21, 2021
Heart Attacks
Fast Food
Fast Food Chains
Gavin , MA / October 20, 2021
Women deprived of abortion
Texas
Governor Greg Abbott
Millie , MA / October 20, 2021
Gen Z attitude
Phones
Technology Bad
Antonio , Freetown, MA / October 20, 2021
Curiosity
The Jar
Pandora
Aiden , MA / October 20, 2021
people from foreign countries
COVID-19 pandemic
asian people
Whitney , MA / October 20, 2021
Punishment After Death
Confrontation Of Religion
All Christians are bad/Corrupt
Kayla , SC / October 18, 2021
Watching A Boring TV Show
A Missing TV Remote
The Only Other Person sitting in the Room
Warren , Dublin, Ireland / October 16, 2021
Stalking/murder
Jealousy and obsession
Borderline Personality Disorder
Sierra , WA / October 16, 2021
women having bodily autonomy
"killing babies"
abortion
Sarah , New York / October 13, 2021
National Attack
911 bombing
Islam-americans
Anonymous , NY, USA / October 13, 2021
COVID
Media
Donald Trump
Chris , MA / October 2021
stolen election
Trump & Right Wing Media
democratic voters
Ginny , Connecticut / October 11, 2021
bombing buildings by terrorist
9/11
Muslims (islam)
Anonymous , Manhattan, NY / October 09, 2021
Police Brutality
George Floyd
Cops
Walter , MN / October 06, 2021
Death of Democracy
Insurrection of 1/6/21
Democrats
Anonymous , MA / October 2021
Islam
9/11
Arab Americans
Megan , OH / October 2021
Infection/Death
Covid-19
Unvaccinated Individuals Being the “reason” for variants
Jo , IN / October 03, 2021
Infection
COVID-19 Pandemic
Asian Americans
Zoe , PA / September 2021
Covid-19 and peer pressure
News coverage of the pandemic demonizing the unvaccinated
Unvaccinated people
Anonymous , US / September 28, 2021
gun violence
shootings
black community
Gabe , MO / September 24, 2021
Covid spread/infection
Government/Media
Unvaccinated
Laree and Tim , Tx / September 23, 2021
COVID-19 Death
Politics/Trump
Democrats
Morris , MA / September 2021
4th wave
Covid
Unvaccinated
Veronica , Canada / September 19, 2021
Women Having Bodily Autonomy
"killing babies"
Abortion
Emily , Boston, MA / September 18, 2021
America becoming more diverse
critical race theory
teachers and school boards
Leigh , SC / September 16, 2021
Punishment After Death
Confrontation of Religion
All Christians are bad/corrupt
Kayla Edwards , SC / September 16, 2021
communists
mc carthy
black listing people
samuel davidson , North Dakota / September 15, 2021
police brutality
george floyd
cops
Walter , US / September 15, 2021
Democratic Socialism
Government
Joe Biden
Jackson , Taylors, SC / September 15, 2021
Transphobia
Straight people who wouldn't date a transgender person
"Super Straight"
Anon , CA / September 15, 2021
Hell
Christianity
Pagans
Adah , GA / September 15, 2021
Predatory People
Complication of Gender Binary
Trans and Gender Nonconformity
Max , VA / September 2021
wokeness
political correctness, climate change mask/vaccine requirements
pandemic
Maggie , Saint louis / September 10, 2021
Pandemic
Fox News/Trump/Conservatives
Asians/Asian Americans
Jillie , Denver, CO / September 9
Vaccine
Covid 19
Government
Laplacian Daniel , Australia / September 07, 2021
Gun violence
teenagers being bullied
video games
A , NY / September 02, 2021
Homosexual Harassment
Bishop McGuinness High School Harassment
Harrison Satterfield
John Hamblin , NC / September 02, 2021
Terrorism
9/11
Muslims
Alexa , NJ / September 2021
Racism
Black Lives Matter
Black Americans
Alexa , NJ / September 2021
Satan Worshiping and Rock Music
Rock and Roll Music
Rock and Roll Artist
Ozzy Osbourne , United States / August 30, 2021
Not Getting Money from the Government
Being Lazy
Latinos
Kevin , Brick, NJ / August 29
COVID-19
Dr. Fauci and News Media
Unvaccinated and Doubters
Jeff Ruzicka , Solon, IA / August 28
Wokeness
Political Correctness, climate change mask/vaccine requirements
Pandemic
Joanne B , South Carolina / August 25, 2021
End of hand-drawn animation
CGI animated film/TV
Disney
Jeffrey Gao , USA / August 25, 2021
covid 19
increased cases/deaths
unvaccinated
Natasha , New Jersey / August 23, 2021
Death
September 11
Minorities
Riley Johnson , United States / August 20, 2021
War
9/11
middle easterns
Jorge Guajardo , MA / August 19, 2021
Chinese Domination
New Fun and Popular App
TikTok
Reagan , NY / August 2021
Erasure
Religion
Women Reproductive Rights
Ana , Massachusetts / July 28, 2021
Covid
Media
The Unmasked
TJ , MA / July 28, 2021
"Foreigners"
Sept 11
Muslims
Bonnie Hoffmann , VA / July 19, 2021
Democratic Socialism
Top 1% losing Control of Gov't.
Poor People & The Working Class
K , Maine / July 13, 2021
Sickness and Death
Novel Coronavirus
Unvaccinated
Emily , NY / July 2021
China
COVID19
Asian Americans
Bess Protocio , NY / July 2021
Safety Threaten
First Case Cov-19 in China
Chinese and Asian Community
Fiona Cui , MA / July 04, 2021
white supremacy
trump
citizens
hero , MA / July 04, 2021
Unusual or Different Leadership Qualities
Conspiracy Theories
Left Thinkers and Right Thinkers
Cathi , Pataskala, Ohio / June 2021
Unemployment
Recession (Economic)
Marginalized Immigrants
Grey , Boston, MA / June 2021
Socialism
Government
Trump
TOM CAPPUCCI , MA / June 26, 2021
Death
The Devil
Bridget Bishop
Abigail Williams , MA / June 24, 2021
Diversity
Mass Immigration
Hispanic Immigrants/Refugees
Amber , Chicago, IL / June 2021
Control/Rules
Pandemic
Michigan Governor Whitmer
Lisa Jevens , Ann Arbor, MI / June 2021
Oppression
CRT
Caucasians
Karen , Ga / June 11, 2021
Politics
COVID-19
Conspiracies
Taylor , Redondo Beach, CA / June 2021
grades
teachers
students
Satyam , Boston MA / May 30, 2021
A virus
News
Non compliant people
Jonathan , IL / May 29, 2021
Minorities Rise
Donald Trump
Latino Community
M. Perez , Dallas, TX / May 2021
Inability to pay bills
Inflation
Rich people and government
Gayle , MA / May 25, 2021
Approval
Celebrity Culture
Social Media
Usman Mahmood and Gaymr , Round Rock, TX / May 2021
Terrorism
Donald Trump
Muslim Community
Madison , Dallas, TX / May 2021
Violence
Trump
Black Community
Renee , Piscataway, NJ / May 2021
Posession
Different Behavior
Autism
Marcella Velasco , Belmont, MA / May 2021
Virus
COVID
Asian Community
Kimberly Jump , LA / May 13, 2021
Communism
CNN
Joe Biden
Carly LaReaux , Indiana / May 10, 2021
Infection
COVID-19
Asian Community
Bethany , Piscataway, NJ / May 2021
Disease
COVID-19
Asian Americans
Lillian Ngu , Melrose, MA / May 2021
Terrorism
9/11
Muslims
Lillian Ngu , Melrose, MA / May 2021
Crazy People are a Threat to Life
Person with Mental Illness in Crisis
ALL PERSONS MENTALLY ILL. There's increase in Police Killings of Persons with Mental Illness in Canada as an Outcome.
Darren Gregory , Creston, BC, Canada / April 20, 2021
Pandemic
Coronavirus
Asian Americans
Rayma , New York City, NY / April 2021
COVID19
Outbreak in Asia
Asian Community
Brittany and Elaine , Stratford, CT / April 2021
Racism/Losing White America
September 11
Mosques/Muslims
David Rastall , Lansing, MI / April 2021
Death
COVID
Asian Americans
Aya , MI / April 2021
Homophobia/Trans-phobia
Having a sexual preference that doesn't include lgbtq
Straight people
Lando , PR / March 30, 2021
Fascism
Trump
Conservatives
Lance , FL / March 29, 2021
War
9/11
Middle Easterners
Gwendolyn , Brooklyn, NY / March 2021
COVID
Dr. Fauci
Chinese Americans
Brienne , Fort Wayne, IN / March 2021
Infection
COVID-19
Chinese Americans
Andy Ortiz , Weston, FL / March 2021
Socialism
Politicians
Minorities
Annette , Damascus, MD / March 2021
Black Lives Matter/Minority Violence
U.S. Capital Storming
White Men
Paula , Bloomfield Hills, MI / March 2021
more diseases or sicknesses
Using sicknesses to cure sicknesses
Enforcing Anti-vaxxers to vaccinate
Jesiel Centeno , New York, Brooklyn / March 11, 2021
Public Speaking
Presentations/projects
School teachers/admin
Aubrey , TN / March 04, 2021
Death
dangerous areas/situations
Religious people
Keyshawn C. , TN / March 04, 2021
Interacting with aggressive animals.
Kid falling into gorilla habitat.
Harambe
Eli Smith , Chattanooga / March 04, 2021
Racism
social media
White, people lacking color
Ann S. , TN / March 04, 2021
Masks
Covid 19
China
Jasmine , TN / March 04, 2021
Not Getting Into College
Parents
Virtual Learning
Joseph G. , California / March 04, 2021
trump supporters
trump
white southerners
Savannah , tennessee / March 04, 2021
WW2
Invasion of Poland
German People
Quincy Harvey , TN / March 04, 2021
Too many illegal immigrants in the country
unbuilt wall on mexican border
Trump
AJ Vaughn , GA / March 04, 2021
covid19 vaccines
coronavirus
politicians/government
Kale , TN / March 04, 2021
Failing
Online learning
Teachers
Mudar A. , TN / March 04, 2021
Terrorists
9/11
Muslims
Mudar A. , TN / March 04, 2021
Gun violence
Shootings
Black people
Patrick C. , Chattanooga, TN / March 04, 2021
Being controlled by the government
Articles saying vaccines could have chips in them
The government
Carys , TN / March 04, 2021
Drug cartel
Trump
Hispanics
Gaby P , TN / March 04, 2021
Satanic Ritual Abuse
Sexual Abuse in Daycare Agencies
D&D Players
Brayden C. , TN / March 04, 2021
getting attacked by Pitbulls
Specific incidents
Pitbulls
Nathan , Chattanooga / March 04, 2021
predators
sexual harassment
old men
Tirzah , Chattanooga TN / March 04, 2021
Betrayal and communism
Hitler and war Propaganda
Jewish People
Aaron Merryman , TN / March 04, 2021
Rapists
Men being "entitled" to sex
Males
Cate Watkins , TN / March 04, 2021
Japanese Power
Pearl Harbor
Japanese Americans
Noah Wolfe , TN / March 04, 2021
Government Control
mental illness/allergies
Vaccines
Morgan , TN / March 04, 2021
Guns
School Shootings
Conservatives
Mason , TN / March 04, 2021
Pit bull attack
Abuse of pit bull
Ban pit bulls
Anonymous , N/A / March 04, 2021
Terrorists
9/11
Muslims
Mudar A. , TN / March 04, 2021
Beatles Breaking Up
Complications Between Beatles
Yoko Ono
Logan Martin , Chattanooga, TN. / March 04, 2021
being different
LGBTQ getting rights
LGBTQ
Madison McCoy , TN / March 04, 2021
covid
pandemic
china
Luna , TN / March 04, 2021
Climate Change
Carbon Emissions
Politicians
Chloe , TN / March 04, 2021
AIDS
Freddie Mercury dies
The entire gay community
Joey Elsrton , tennessee / March 04, 2021
Guns
Assassination
Lee Harvey Oswald
joey el;ston , Tennessee / March 04, 2021
No more jobs
Trump and media
Immigrants
Cai , TN / March 04, 2021
increasing crime rates
undocumented immigrants
racial profiling of illegal immigrants
Matthew , California / March 03, 2021
Bigoted White Women
Karens As All Women
Women Named Karen
Susan Miller , Albuquerque, NM / March 2021
Gun Violence
Teenagers Being Bullied
Video Games
Rob , Flushing, NY / March 2021
COVID-19
President Trump
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
Audrey , Flushing, NY / March 2021
Unsafe
Crime
Black People
Aviva , MA / February 2021
police brutality
george floyd
BLM protest
veah , SC / February 22, 2021
Covid 19
Trump
Asians/Asian American
Nancy , CA / February 22, 2021
fanaticism
religious heretics and zealots
Muslims
Hugh Jazz , Nevada / February 10, 2021
Infection
COVID-19
Hate Crimes Against Asian-Americans
Ally , New York, NY / February 2021
Magic
Unexplained phenomenon of Divination
Labeled Divine women
Alecia V , Louisiana / January 21, 2021
Coruption
Train Basescu
Romanian Politicians And Businessmen Opposing Basescu
Damon , TN / January 20, 2021
Bombings
Wars (Middle East)
Muslim community
Steven G. , Barrow, England / September 2017
Crime
Decreasing numbers dominant race
Imprisoned & racial profiling of African-Americans
Donna S.B. , Cincinnati, OH / September 2017
inability to complete homework
lecturers
student
Emily , Konya / January 18, 2021
CORONA PANDEMIC
CDC GUIDELINES ON GATHERINGS
VACCINATIONS
Samuel Sherman , Westfield, NJ / January 15, 2021
Satan
Accused child molestation
California daycare workers
Witt , AZ / January 12, 2021
Autism
Faulty Study
Vaccines
Julia M , RI, USA / January 10, 2021
Disease from Asia
Coronavirus
Asians and Asian Americans
Marle , MA / December 2020
DISEASE
BRAD DEHAY
CORONAVIRUS
AMANDA VOSE , WA / December 21, 2020
womens right
Feminism
women
um’unique , CA / December 11, 2020
child abuse
gender-neutral bathrooms
the trans and lgbtq community
michelle w , IN / December 11, 2020
xenophobia
COVID19
chinese
grace , chicago / December 11, 2020
lack of future thinking
Trump
imigrants
Esmeralda , CA / December 11, 2020
More war
WWII
Japanese-Americans put into Interment Camps
Barbara , CA / December 11, 2020