In response to a wave of antisemitic and homophobic flyers being discovered in multiple San Diego neighborhoods, residents are coming together to denounce the hatred and fight back against this alarming trend, urging one another to report any incidents to the police, according to NBC 7.
Flyers bearing hate-filled messages have been found on car windshields in neighborhoods such as San Carlos, Santee, and Del Cerro, purportedly distributed by the Goyim Defense League, a group known for spreading antisemitism across the country. These flyers have targeted both Jewish and LGBTQ communities, sparking outrage and concern among residents, reports CBS 8.
One resident named Adele spoke with CBS 8, stating that she began crying upon finding the flyers because of the pain caused by the cruel messages. According to her account, she and her husband Scott went door to door, removing the flyers from their neighbors' cars, in an effort to rid their community of the hateful sentiment.
Adele, who identifies as Jewish, expressed that these attacks brought back painful memories of the past, which saw her lose family members during the Holocaust and also be targeted for her faith in the 1980s, when vandals spray-painted Nazi slogans on her house and car. She called for the arrest of those responsible for these hate crimes, demanding consequences for their actions
The hateful flyers were reportedly discovered near a synagogue and in historically Jewish neighborhoods, leading to places of worship such as Temple Emanu-El in Del Cerro and Tifereth Israel Synagogue in San Carlos stepping up security measures to protect their communities.
Former San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria has since vowed that there will be consequences for those responsible for spreading hate in the city, claiming they are being investigated.
According to the Anti-Defamation League, antisemitic incidents have nearly tripled in the last six years, bringing the recent spate of flyer attacks in San Diego into sharp focus. The organization called Stop Antisemitism advocates for Jewish Americans, stating that the flyers are part of a concentrated harassment campaign against the Jewish community, as described by its executive director, Liora Rez, in an interview with NBC 7.
What is essential to recognize is that standing against antisemitism and hate is not just the responsibility of the targeted groups, but of everyone in the community. Despite not being Jewish or particularly religious, resident Sheryl Rose has taken a stand against the hateful flyers, pointing out that this is a human issue.
As communities in San Diego unite to fight against these antisemitic and homophobic attacks, it is crucial to remain vigilant and report any incidents to the police, advocating groups, or to share any related security footage in an effort to hold the perpetrators legally responsible and ultimately put an end to this alarming trend.
