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

Lack of Conformity

McCarthyism

Communists and Dissidents

Anonymous , OH / March 20, 2025

Loss of Patriarchy

SCOTUS Nominations

Abuse/Assault Survivors/Women

Anonymous , OH / March 20, 2025

Culture War

Elections

Trans People

Mary , FL / March 2025

Fall of Nuclear Family

Women Entering Work

Daycare Workers

Mae , MA / March 2025

Famine/Pandemic/Inflation

Hitler

Jewish People

Emily , MA / March 2025

Losing Power White Men

Black President

Poor People

Steve J. , New Haven, KY / March 16, 2025

Infection

COVID-19

Chinese People/Population

Edith , AZ / March 2025

Economic Uncertainty

Trump

Immigrants

Kevin , Providence, RI / March 15, 2025

Pandemic/Inflation

Trump/MAGA

Trans/LGBT

Clare , Germany / March 2025

Sanguma (Witchcraft) in Papua New Guinea

Women's Liberation, Poor Healthcare, Land Disputes, and Exploration

Papuan Women

Paul , Australia / March 2025

Losing the Patriarchy

Trump

Kamala Harris

Rio , MA / March 12, 2025

Going Against Religion

Caricatures

Charlie Hebdo Workers

Waha , Belgium / March 11, 2025

Terrorism

9/11

Muslims

Kristen , TX / March 2025

Tom Brady

SuperBowl Win

Deflate Gate

Jim , IN / March 11, 2025

The Unknown

Political Uncertainty

LGBTQIA+

Olivia , MA / March 2025

Economic Downturn

Laken Riley Murder

Immigrants

Ana , IN / March 10, 2025

Fear of the Unknown and Out of the Mainstream Understanding

Anything Outside of Mainstream Beliefs, Not Upheld by Mainstream Medicine, Mainstream Religion, Western Medicine

Spiritual Healers, Intuitives, Readers, Energy Workers

Sally , MA / March 9, 2025

Getting in Trouble

Doing Something Bad

Siblings

Danika , MA / March 6, 2025

Terrorism

9/11

Muslims and Middle Eastern People

Christian , RI / March 6, 2025

Disdain of Christianity

LGBTQIA+

Books and Book Ban

Kassy , United States / March 6, 2025

Black Death

Jews Not Falling Ill

Jews

Heidi , New Zealand / March 6, 2025

Inflation

Gas Prices Rising

Joe Biden

Joelle , PA / March 5, 2025

World Invasion

Racism Against Extraterrestrials

Martians

Anonymous , Mars / March 5, 2025

Losing Power (White Men)

Black President

All Minorities and Women

Julie , Salina, KS / March 2025

Fear of Freedom Loss

Increased Immigration

Immigrant Displacement

Anonymous , USA / March 2025

Loss of Control/Power by the Rich

Trump/MAGA

"Woke" People/Progressives

Gale , Clearwater, FL / March 2025

The Dismantling of White Supremacy and Patriarchy

Religious Values/Nuclear Family

Trans Community

Jessi H. , USA / March 3, 2025

Registered Nurses

Nursing School

Nurses Causing Shortage

Viktoria , Long Island, NY / March 2025

Infection/Death

COVID-19

Chinese Immigrants/Asians

Weronika , Maspeth, NY / March 1, 2025

Hispanic Minorities Growing in the US

Fentanyl Addiction

Migrants

Dr. Salvador , Worcester, MA / March 2025

Terrorism

9/11

Muslims and Middle Eastern People

Christian , RI / February 2025

Accusation

Economic Dislocation

Blacklist/Wurzburg Witch Hunt Victims

Anonymous , Germany / February 26, 2025

Judeo-Christian Morality

Donald Trump Election

Republicans

Cephas , UK / February 25, 2025

Americans Losing Jobs

Rapid Intake of Immigrants

Legal Immigrants

Nivya , Somerville, MA / February 2025

Crime and Loss of Jobs

Lies and Anger by Politicians

Immigrant Population

Laura , Conroe, TX / February 24, 2025

Devil/God

Men Leaving Women for Whaling Industry

Hundreds of Basque Women

Manine , France / February 2025

Trump Derangement Syndrome

Blue-Haired Women

Normal People

Hugh J. , NJ / February 22, 2025

Chinese

COVID-19

Chines People

Bee , Johnson City, TN / February 2025

Losing Privilege/Power

Anyone Who Looks/Sounds Different

Women, Minorities, People w/ Disabilities, Religions Other Than Christian, LGBTQIA+, Tattoos

Leslie Q. , St. Louis, MO / February 21, 2025

People Leaving Me

My Dad Leaving Me

Men

Maxine , Seymour, IN / February 20, 2025

Animal Cruelty

Lack of Experience with Farming and Livestock

Farmers

Mya , IL / February 20, 2025

Property Damage

Teens Trespass at St Ann’s Retreat and Held at Gunpoint

Teenagers

Emily , Logan Canyon, Utah / February 19, 2025

Jews

Israel Existing

Jews

Becca , NJ / February 14, 2025

The World Becoming More Secular

Anne Boleyn

Women

Tanya , MA / February 2025

Crime

Trump

Immigrant Hunting

Anonymous , MA / February 2025

White Men Losing Control of World

Trump

DEI and Minorities

Anonymous , TN / February 11, 2025

Motorcycle Crash

Bad Motorcycle Rider

Car That Hit Rider

Vyom , VA / February 10, 2025

Immigration

Joshua Kasongo Coming to the U.S

Government Regarding Immigration Policies

Joshua , VA / February 10, 2025

Shootings

Gang Members

Police

Kasongo , VA / February 10, 2025

Black Americans

Crime

Police

Hafiz , VA / February 10, 2025

Black People

Robbery

Police

Josh , VA / February 10, 2025

Guns

Mass School Shootings

People With Mental Illness

Roman , CA / February 10, 2025

Witchcraft

Dementia

Elderly

Mary , NH / February 8, 2025

Anti-Vax

COVID

Medical Research

Bharath , NJ / February 2025

Terrorism

9/11

Muslims

Anonymous , United States / February 6, 2025

Divorce

Unhealthy Relationship

Children

Anonymous , PA / February 6, 2025

Psychedelics

Counter-Culture

Timothy Leary

Shash , MA / February 2025

People Different Than I

Trump Regime

Immigrant Community

Margaret , MA / February 4, 2025

People Different Than I

Trump Regime

Trans Community

Margaret , MA / February 4, 2025

Declining Music Industry

Bad Music

Nettspend

Hoax , USA / February 4, 2025

Losing Pets

Trump's Speech

Springfield

Chris , TX / February 4, 2025

AI Taking Over

Alexa

Robots

Will , VA / February 4, 2025

Conservatives

Patriotism

Trump

Anonymous , MA / February 3, 2025

Death

People

God/Devil

Vyom , VA / January 31, 2025

Robots Taking Over the World

People Using AI for Bad

Anyone Using AI

Flower , VA / January 31, 2025

Health Insurance Rising

Death of Healthcare Global CEO

Bill Clinton

Arnav , Washington D.C. / January 31, 2025

High Medical Insurance

Death of Healthcare Global CEO

Obama

Arnav , VA / January 31, 2025

Gang Violence

Grandson by King Von is Released

Dirty Drill Music

Paul , VA / January 30, 2025

Women's Rights

Dictatorships

Feminista

Anonymous , Italy / January 30, 2025

China Spying On America

TikTok Collecting Data

TikTok/Social Media Bans

Katie , Ian, NY / January 30, 2025

Power

Healing

Women

Martha , MA / January 29, 2025

New Patriots Dynasty

Mac Jones Rookie Season

Matt Patricia

Tim , MA / January 28, 2025

Mass Migration

Mass Deportation

Migrants

KE , MN / January 28, 2025

Tech Sales

Sales Down

Women in Tech

Laura , RI / January 27, 2025

Terrorism

9/11

Middle Eastern Americans

Matthew , IL / January 26, 2025

Terrorism

9/11/01

Islam

Sogol and Sasha , CA and WA / January 2025

Freedom

Trump

Supporters

Anonymous , MA / January 2025

Anyone Differnet

Internet

Groups That are Different

Efrain , MA / January 2025

Non-Traditional Gender Identity

Religious Values/Traditional Culture

Trans People/Drag Performers

Jason , Canada / January 2025

China Spying On America

TikTok Collecting Data

TikTok/Social Media Bans

Ian , NY / January

Loss of Control Over Women

Religion

Pro-Choice Activists

Jaz , GA / January 16, 2025

LGBTQ+

Confusion

Trans People

Anonymous , CO / January 14, 2025

Losing Power

Young People With New Ideas

Massacres and Torture

Fernando , Mexico / January 2025

Death

Crime Rates Increase

Poor People/Lack of Money

Anonymous , CO / January 13, 2025

Young Educated Adults

Department of Education

LGBTQ+

Emily , CA / January 9, 2025

School

Peer Pressure

Parents and Teachers

Angie , NJ / January 8, 2025

Communism

Joseph McCarthy

Government Employees, Suspected Communists, etc.

Anonymous , United States / January 8, 2025

Criticism Online

Cancel Culture

Influencers

Adalina , NJ / January 8, 2025

Loss of Reproductive Rights

Roe v. Wade Overturned

Trump

Alana , NJ / January 7, 2025

Masculinity

Insecurity

Transgender Women/Men

Madison , NJ / January 7, 2025

Minority Religions and Cultures

Economic Instability

Jewish People

Eli , MA / January 6, 2025

Educated Women

Maternal Morbidity/Mortality

Midwives

Lynnet , LA / January 5, 2025

Transgender Community

Religious Right Wing

Human Beings And Legislative Violence

Anonymous , CO / January 2, 2024

Neurodivergence

Alien

People With Autism

Jasper B. , Nashville, TN / December 30, 2024

Italian-Australians

Italy's Axis Power Status

Italians in Internment Camps

Anthony , MA / December 2024

Political Clout

Fake Story On Eating Cats and Dogs

Immigrants

Anonymous , NY / December 2024

Different Religions

Dictatorship: Hitler

Jewish People

Anna-Mai , Wales / December 2024

Racism and Xenophobia

Donald Trump

Haitian Asylum Seekers

Hsu Chen , CA / December 2024

Being Ridiculed

Peers

Humanity/Society's Standards

Lilly-Anne , Earth / December 27, 2025

Lost Jobs

Importing Chinese Laborers

Chinese and Chinese Exclusion Act

Maya , CA / December 2024

Transgender Community

Religious Right Wing

Human Beings and Legislative Violence

Spencer , CO / December 2024

Death

People

God/Devil

Kate , MA / December 2024

Terrorism

9/11

Muslims

Amy , PA / December 2024

Supernatural

Religion

Witches

Myles , MA / December 23, 2024

No Soul (Idea or Perception)

Eradicating the Different

Native Canadian Medicine Women

Jessica , Canada / December 2024

Misfortune/Misery

Culture (Sorcery)

Albino People in Western Africa

Audrey , UK / December 2024

Poverty/Job Loss

Recession/Inflation

Immigrants

Lindsey , MA / December 2024

Government

Truth

Witches

Cynthia , KY / December 20, 2024

Not Being Able to Afford to Live

Bad Economy/Inflation

Immigrants

Ella , PA / December 2024

Death

Seeing Other People Die

The Devil

Juliana , DE / December 19, 2024

Science/Competence

Donald Trump

Immigrants

AI , NJ / December 2024

War

9/11

Muslims

Warren , VT / December 14, 2024

Free Speech-Critical Questioning of Power

Scarcity Mindset

Neurodivergents-Nonconformists

Hali , CA / December 12, 2024

Hispanics Taking White People´s Jobs

Influx Of Immigrants Into United States

Immigrants

Anya , CA / December 12, 2024

9/11

Inside Job

Muslims

Warren , VT / December 12, 2024

Jewish Conspiracy

War Against Hamas

American Jews/Israelis

Alex , ME / December 10, 2024

Ignorance

Mass Media

Popular Opinion

Jessie , MD / December 2024

MAGA

Trump's Lies

Immigrants and LGBTQIA+ Community

Diane , VA / December 2024

Supernatural

Religion

Witches

Anonymous , Salem, MA / December 6, 2024

Animals

Child Falling Into Pen

Harambe

Harambe , ID / December 6, 2024

Sickness

COVID-19 Pandemic

Asian Communities

Courtney , FL / December 2, 2024

Illegal Immigrants

Donald Trump

Migrant Travel Bans, "The Wall"

Brian , IN / 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

Lack of Control Over Kids

Opportunistic Politicians

Trans People and Anti-Trans Laws

Leo , OH / November 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

Chinese

COVID-19

Asian Americans

Brandon , ID / November 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

Gangs

Violent Crime Increase

Immigrants

Lee , NY / November 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

Submit a Witch Hunt

Scapegoat
Example: for Massachusetts, put in MA