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

Conservative Government

Republican ideals and facts

Trump

Renee , NJ / September 18, 2023

Loss of Human domination of Earth

Great Martian war 1907

Martian Immigrants

Ben , England / September 12, 2023

Satan/religious beliefs

Satanic panic

People who are different/alternative Satanist

Violet , UK / September 12, 2023

Having to admit that you may have privilege in certain areas

Marginalized people fighting for socio-economic equality

Using “woke” as a pejorative to diminish anyone who advocates for socio-economic change

Miranda , VT / September 11, 2023

Being emasculated

Far too many triggers to list in this little box

Any person/group of people that a man can overpower

Miranda , VT / September 11, 2023

Gaining weight

Being indoctrinated by the media to base self worth on your size

Fat humans who have the audacity to exist in their bodies without shame

Miranda , VT / September 11, 2023

Jews and Northern industrialism

Murder of Mary Phagan

Lynching of Leo Frank (1915)

Morgan , Bloomington, IL / September 01, 2023

Immigration(new immigrants)

ww1/ww2

german americans

Alfred , TN / September 01, 2023

Overpopulation

Migrant Boats into the UK

African/Eastern European Refugees

Anonymous , UK / August 2023

Loss of Control by White Men

Rise of MAGA Conservatism

Librarians and School Teachers

Alyson , PA / August 2023

Protection of Children

The Misunderstanding of Trans People

Transgender Community

Anonymous , MA / August 2023

People

Greed

Witches

Indra , Canada / August 2023

Shifting traditional family values

New wave of transgender young people

trans families and doctors

Peggy , MA / August 2023

Pandemic

Arrival of Covid Pandemic

Asians

Latoff , UK / August 2023

Arabs/Musilms

9/11/2001

Arab Americans

Christopher , MA / August 2023

End of white supremacy

Implementation of DEI policies

Educators, librarians, democratic politicians

Vicki , MD / August 29, 2023

Prejudice

State Policy

Extermination of Jews of Europe

Joey , NY / August 2023

Loneliness

Women calling out toxic bs

empowered/educated women

Karime , MA / August 2023

Leftist Indoctrination

Republicans Losing Popularity

Librarians & Educators

Julie , FL / August 2023

Climate Action

People of Color

Women and "Woke Culture"

Anonymous , MA / August 2023

Illness

Vaccine Conspiracy

Neurodivergent People

Theo , IN / August 2023

War

9/11

Muslim Community

Theo , IN / August 2023

China

COVID

Asian Community

Wei , MA / August 2023

Death

COVID

Unvaccinated

Anonymous , MA / August 2023

Not Feeling Safe

Too Many Homeless

California

Catie , Santa Monica, CA / August 2023

"Groomers"

The idea of the trans/LGBT "groomer" (i.e. pedophile)

LGBT people, particularly trans people

Logan , CT / August 14, 2023

Transphobia

Furthering of Trans Rights

Demonizing Trans People

Drew , NJ / August 2023

Knowldege

Child Predators

Teachers

Jenn F. , Indianapolis, IN / August 2023

National Security being breached during WWII

Discovering actual spies

Japanese Internment

Kate , OH / August 2023

Woman having control over their own bodies’

Roe vs. Wade

Women’s Rights

C , NC / August 2023

"corrupting children's minds"

sensitive parts of history

education

angela , PA / August 2023

pandemic

covid

bats

gigi , NY / August 2023

Trump for President

Lying Democrats/Government

TRUMP

Anonymous , Greenfield MA / August 11, 2023

Acceptance of LGBT People

Bigoted and Facist Republicans and Conservatives

Trans Kids

Anon , Washington Xing PA / August 11, 2023

Women Gaining Power

Abortion rights

Women

Rev. Leigh , MA / August 2023

Covid

Trump

Chinese/Asian People

Edward , NH / August 2023

Disease/Death

COVID

Chinese People/Jews

Dan , CA / August 2023

China

Corona Virus

Asian People

Marj , Danvers MA / August 08, 2023

Bombs

Isis

Muslims

Anonymous , BD / August 08, 2023

JAPAN

PEARL HARBOR

JAPANESE AMERICAN

DAMIEN , MA / August 08, 2023

Murder

Roe v Wade

Women who had abortions

Sophia , PA / August 08, 2023

Coronavirus/COVID19

Media

Violence Against Asian Community

Mike , MA / August 2023

Superstition, Black Magic

Women having strong opinions

Tribal women

Pragyan , India / August 2023

The collapse of order

Birth rate regression

Feminists (Especially Eastern Asians)

Adelyn , MA / July 2023

Coronavirus

Media/Dr. Fauci

Unvaccinated People

Nicole , FL / July 2023

Fear of Those Who are Different

Politicians

Drag Queens

Shauna , CA / July 2023

Inclusion

Demand for Accountability

Woke People

Mark , CA / July 2023

Mental Health

Unknown History

Illness and "Crazy"

Brenda , CA / July 2023

Strong Cultures

Economic Decline

Jews / Muslims

David , NC / July 2023

Religion (Catholicism)

Cromwell (Lutherian ideas)

Catholics Persecuted and Expelled

Diya , UK / July 2023

Children's Safety

Republicans

Transgender People

Richie , NY / July 2023

Guilt

Critical Race Theory

Banned Books

Christine , AZ / July 2023

Fear of Change

Trump

People That are Different/Minorities

Tina , ME / June 2023

Not having importance

Failure to maintain relationship with the Creator of all things

Your children

Anonymous , MA / June 2023

A child identifying as anything other than straight, cis

Conservatism

Republican bans on gender-related healthcare for youth

Anon , NY / June 2023

A man having a bad relationship with a woman

His mother

His wife/girlfriend

Anonymous , MA / June 2023

Losing Freedom of Speech

Actual Conservative Censorship

Labeling speech as disinformation or hate

Felisha , VA / June 26, 2023

abortion

"Murdering babies"

Bible

Andrea , FL / July 2023

A Republican President

The Lying Media/MSNBC Etc

Donald Trump

Vanessa , CT / June 26, 2023

Problems w/ Vaxing

Anti Vaxers and Fox News

People Dying of Covid

Mary , NY / June 2023

Terrorism

WTC Tragedy

War in Afghanistan/Iraq

Dave , MA / June 2023

Loss of Political Power

Donald Trump

Conservatives

John , AL / June 2023

Failure to Provide

Job Loss

Illegal Immigrants

Sarah , NY / June 19, 2023

Misunderstanding of things you THINK you control

Being a woman and living your life not married or having babies

Taylor Swift

Anonymous , PA / June 2023

Truth

Death

GOD/JESUS/HOLY SPIRIT

Jennifer , PA / June 2023

Korean People

Kanto Earthquake 1923

Korean People in Japan

Miuna , Japan / June 2023

Problems W/ Vaxxing

Anti Vaxers and Fox News

Many People Dying of COVID

Mary , NY / June 2023

Satan and Bewitchment

Tituba's Confession

20 men and women killed

Scarlet , NH / June 12, 2023

Diversity

Migration

Immigrants

Noemi , IN / June 12, 2023

Infection

Covid-19

Unvaccinated

Jason , MO / June 2023

Destruction of property and Life

Politics and rewritting history to suit the narrative

White males

Sabrina , NY / June 06, 2023

Children being abused by pedophiles

children learning about sex

safe sex education in schools

Katherine , VA / May 29, 2023

Harm to Children

Trans Rigths

Trans Community

Nicole , MA / May 2023

Infection

Covid

Asian Citizens

Nicole , MA / May 2023

Fear of Losing importance at workplace

Seeing women at workforce

Women

Aruna , INDIA / May 2023

covid

pandemic

Asians

Anonymous , NYC / May 2023

Conspiracy theories

Donald Trump

Jews

Miriel , MN / May 15, 2023

Japan

Pearl Harbor

Japanese Americans

Roger , HI / May 15, 2023

school shooting

news

gun laws

Olivia , NH / May 2023

Bombs

ISIS

Muslims

Adela , DB / May 06, 2023

Trans Men and Drag Artist

Accusations against trans men. Also accusations against Drag artists

ALL LGBTQI AND SUPPORTERS

Ertan , UK / April 2023

Christians Hate Trans People

Christians Refuse to Affirm a Transgender Person Due to Religious Beliefs About Sex and Gender

Children at a Christian School

Angela , CO / April 2023

Dying From COVID

Media

Unvaccinated

Ginny , FL / April 2023

Gun violence

guns

Mental Illness

Maria , AL / April 23, 2023

Pandemic or Breakdown in Society

Anti-Trans

Trans Community

Marjory , NY / April 2023

LGBTQ/Education/Democrats

Drag Queens/Books/College Loan Forgiveness

Drag Queens/Trans Folks/Women

Jessica , WA / April 2023

Protestor violence

White supremacists creating violence

peaceful protestors

Anonymous , MN / April 2023

Satan

Rumors

Witches

Lillian , CA / April 2023

Different Political Views

Trans Kids Understanding Themselves

Trans People and 400 Anti-Trans Bills

River , UT / April 2023

Loss of "Freedom"

Gun Control Laws

Liberals

Danielle , NJ / April 2023

Fear of Change

Trump

People That are Different

Tina , ME / April 2023

Obesity

Fat people

Fast Food

Gabe , SD / March 30, 2023

Crime

Stereotypes

Black People

Madison , U.S. / March 28, 2023

People with no comprehension of the effects of their actions

The 6 construction workers killed on 695 in Baltimore

Young drivers

Lisa , MD / March 24, 2023

Gun Violence

School Shootings

Guns

Abbie , Wa / March 2023

Being Poor

Seeing the Less Priveledged

The Rich

Andrew , NY / March 2023

Being exposed as wrong

Minor Gender Surgery Bans

Parents

Annonymous , Annonymous / March 19, 2023

infection

covid 19

aisian communities

Sierra , MI / March 2023

Witchcraft

Salem Witch Trials

Witches

Adrienne , OH / March 2023

Racism, Sexism, Homophobia

Left Wing Lies

White, Straight, Men

Annonymous , Anonymous / March 2023

Loss of Power/Anti-Semitism

White Nationalists

Jews and POC

Melissa , NY / February 2023

Covid

"Chinese Lab"

Asian Community

Leah , PA / February 2023

Japan

World War II

Franklin D. Roosevelt

William , USA / February 2023

Millennials afraid of Gen z actions

Gen Z accepting LGBTQ more openly

Social media platforms and schools

Micah , FL / February 19, 2023

Porcelain Dolls

Anabelle

dolls are scary

Arthur , NC / February 14, 2023

Pollution

Industrialization

Unabomber

Ethan , ND / February 14, 2023

Pedophiles/Rapists

Children

Adults

Key , MA / February 14, 2023

A narcissist losing his perceived control

Him being questioned on his actions to others, comma and how it's an oxymoron for the way the way he expects other people to treat himself

The wife, deserving of domestic abuse

Jill , NY / February 14, 2023

car crashed

bad drivers

people driving under the influence

Riley , OH / February 14, 2023

Gun Violence

school shootings

guns

Abbie , Wa / February 14, 2023

Homosexuality

Gay Marriage

Homophobia

Reese , Irwin, PA / February 07, 2023

school shootings

guns

the right to bare arms

Sarah , CA / February 04, 2023

losing money

shortages

bitcoin

Bob , MA / February 2023

Loss of Political Power in Nicaraguan Gov.

Slashing of Retirement Budget

Students Killed in 2018 Riot

Fran , TX / February 2023

being gay

seing gay people

gay people

Anonymous , America / February 03, 2023

climate change

increased amount of litter

homeless population

Jane , MA / January 29, 2023

fear of not being right/ having to agree with an opposite

political stereotypes

calling everybody an extremist

Anonymous , MA / January 22, 2023

Changing Societal Norms

Fox News/Donald Trump

LGBTQ+ Youth and Adults

Tanner , NJ / January 2023

Gun Violence

School Shootings

Guns

Courtney , Clendenin, WV / January 15, 2023

being controlled

britain taxing america

tax collectors

Anonymous , America / January 09, 2023

Exposure

Pending Legal Matters

Donald J. Trump

Anonymous , Saint Louis / January 06, 2023

Child Rapist

Right Wing Media

Queer people

Anonymous , NV / January 04, 2023

The Unknown

New Viruses

Bodily Self-determination

Anonymous , Kalamazoo, MI / January 03, 2023

Bombings

9/11

Muslim people

JT , NY / January 03, 2023

Insanity and suspicion of evil

Lack of knowledge on mental diseases

People with mental disease

Anonymous , International / January 03, 2023

sports team losing

someone not playing perfectly

that player

Ethan , MA / January 03, 2023

COVID

CDC

Doctors and Others Who Doubt

Neysa , CA / December 2022

protest

Poutine

Independent Russian newspapers

Camille , France / December 28, 2022

Infection

Monkey Pox

Gay Community

Megan , Singapore / December 2022

Losing White Privilege/Status

QAnon and Trump

Jews

Zoey , IL / December 2022

Quaran's Tyrrany

People following the Quaran and commiting atrocities

"Islam is Peaceful"

Abbu , VA / December 20, 2022

Immigrants "Corrupting" America

Trump/Racism

Hispanic

Derek , Colton, WA / December 20, 2022

Voicing an Opinion

Cancel Culture

Person voicing an opinion

Jon , UT / December 18, 2022

loss of control of women

abortion

women

Sheyla and Lexsi , California / December 16, 2022

Loss Control of Women

Abortion

Black Women

Anjum , Ca / December 13, 2022

police brutality

george floyds death

police being targeted

Anonymous , MN / December 13, 2022

Contracting HIV/AIDS

People not understanding the illness

Gay community

Addy , VT / December 13, 2022

Loss Of Control Of Women

Abortion

Women

Sheyla , Lexsi, CA / December 13, 2022

Gun Violence

Guns

Mental Illness

Maria , AM / December 12, 2022

birth rights

converatism

women

Isabella , Massachussets / December 12, 2022

hell

organized religion

anyone who doesn't go to church

Kaydiana , CA / December 12, 2022

School shootings

guns

The right to keep and bare arms

Sarah , California / December 10, 2022

Sickness

AIDS Outbreak

LGBTQ+

Mack , VT / December 09, 2022

Hell

Organized religion

anyone who doesn't go to church

Jenni , CA / December 08, 2022

Police brutality

George Floyd’s Death

Police Being Targeted

Anonymous , MN / December 07, 2022

Illness

Xenopobia

Asian Americans

QS , MA / December 06, 2022

fear of discrimination

George Floyd

policeman being looked as bad

Anonymous , d / December 06, 2022

Being possessed by the devil

Witch accusation

the accused

June , GA / December 06, 2022

Birth Rights

Conservatism

Women

Isabella , MA / December 06, 2022

Getting hurt

someone getting choked

police brutality

mike , Ma / December 05, 2022

Covid

Shutdown

Asians

Roscoe , Wasco high / December 05, 2022

Youth Becoming less social due to Technology

Covid-19/Online Learning

Phones

Noah , CA / December 05, 2022

loss of control of women

abortion

women

lexsi , CA / December 02, 2022

Immigrants "corrupting" america

Trump/Racism

Hispanic/Mexican People

Colton , WA / December 01, 2022

Bad Luck

Superstition

Animals who need to be adopted and loved, suffering because of people's superstitions

Aster , WA / December 01, 2022

Terrorism

9/11

Indians/indian americans

Anonymous , WA / December 01, 2022

Losing control over women

Women removing hijabs

Capitalist and Western Countries

Amber , Iran / December 01, 2022

youth becoming less social due to technology

covid-19/remote learning

phones

Sophia , USA / November 30, 2022

Getting hurt

Someone getting choked

Police Brutality

Mel , Ma / November 30, 2022

scared

how the girls acted

tituba

Alana , Massachusetts / November 30, 2022

mental helath

feeling overwhelmed

belief of being a threat and violent to society

Anonymous , Ca / November 30, 2022

Voter fraud

Federal Elections

Voting Machines/Poll Station Staff

Tod , WA / November 29, 2022

Sports team losing

Someone not playing perfectly

That player

Ethan , Il / November 26, 2022

Drogues et enfants confus

Une montée de la criminalité

Production Disney

Romy , MA / November 24, 2022

Zero Covid Policies, Party Oppression

Fire in Urumqi

Chinese Communist Party

West , Seattle, WA / November 23, 2022

Hell

Organized Religion

Anyone Who Doesn't Go To Church

Travis , PA / November 22, 2022

Covid

It Starting In China

Asians Being Blamed

Tanner , United States / November 22, 2022

Lack of Attention by the Accusers

Seeking/Wanting Attention/Spotlight

Anyone in Salem

Shelley , MA / November 21, 2022

infection

covid-19

china

Avah , nd / November 21, 2022

police brutality

george floyd's death

police being targeted

Nathan, Patrick, Tyler , Millbury MA / November 20, 2022

Birth Rights

Conservatism

Woman

Isabella , MA / November 20, 2022

Ruining Kids Minds

Social Media

Books

Krusha , Chicago / November 19, 2022

women in power

women not wearing hijabs

murdering and imprisoning women

tiffany, victoria, and chelsea , Massachusetts / November 18, 2022

Moral Decline

Satanic Panic

Daycare Workers

Kasey , St. Louis, MO / November 17, 2022

Men

Being attacked

Woman

Paige , IA / November 17, 2022

Infection

Covid 19

China

Sylvia , MA / November 2022

gun violence

guns

mental illness

Amare , usa / November 17, 2022

Covid

1st cases in china

Asian hate

Aieden and Anthony , Massachusetts / November 16, 2022

Satanic Ritual Abuse

Therapists

Parents

Key , MA / November 16, 2022

Judaism

Celebrities careless actions on social media

Jewish People

M.L. , MA / November 15, 2022

Fear of Police officers

BLM Protests / George Floyd

Attacked Police Officers

Samantha , Massachusetts / November 15, 2022

Birth Rights

Conservatism

woman

Isabella , Massachusetts / November 15, 2022

Death from covid

Source of Covid

Discrimination against Chinese and Asians

Cadence , Massachusetts / November 14, 2022

women in power

muslim women without hijabs

murdering and imprisoning women

Reilly, Sophia, Soleil , MA / November 14, 2022

Not Belonging

Politics

LGBTQ

Nathan , MA / November 14, 2022

War

Biden

Trump

George , MA / November 14, 2022

homeless are not morally good

rise in crime

violence towards them

Victoria , MA / November 14, 2022

Election Fraud

Donald Trump's Accusations

Election Officials, Staff, and Volunteers

Mary Ann , CO / November 2022

Degradation of USA Economy

Inequity of Tax Systems

Immigrants and the Poor

Mary Ann , CO / November 2022

Covid 19

Conspiracy Theory

Chinese People

Tom , CO / November 2022

Jewish People (Not pure enough blood)

Hitler

Concentration Camps/Death/Anti-Jewish

Naomi , CA / November 2022

That jewish people would be sucessful without them

during the first world war, the german army command spread the myth that jewish people and communists were working together against them.

Jewish people

Meredith and Mackenzie , MA / November 10, 2022

Past news

Being Targeted

Women

Abigail , MA / November 10, 2022

Being targeted

Alone in a public space

Woman

Tyler , MA / November 10, 2022

911

death from plane crash

Islamic people hate

Anonymous , New York / November 09, 2022

Spies

Pearl harbor

Japanese Americans

Anonymous , United States / November 09, 2022

Gun Control

School Shootings

Doors

Bob , CA / November 09, 2022

LGBTQ+ Indoctrination

LGBTQ+ Tolerance

Teachers

Sonya , IL / November 09, 2022

School Shootings

Columbine

Violence in Movies

Anonymous , MA / November 09, 2022

Jewish Beliefs/People

Celebrities (Kanye and Kyrie Irving)

Normalizing Antisemeticism/Anti-Jewish Behavior

Calvin , MA / November 09, 2022

Submit a Witch Hunt

Scapegoat
Example: for Massachusetts, put in MA