JACKSONVILLE, Fla — More anti-Semitic flyers are being found in driveways and lawns; this time in St. Johns county
A small neighborhood in St. Augustine was inundated with the fliers when someone dropped them off in nearly every driveway; and neighbors tell me they have nothing in common with whoever did this.
One neighbor, Jim Hickoc, told us it was surprising to everyone. Saying, “It was most unfortunate. Those are the kinds of things that we don’t certainly appreciate and certainly don’t agree with.”
It’s become the latest site for these plastic bags filled with rocks or sand- and anti-Semitic fliers.
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“We knew it was going on but initially because of the person who put out the Facebook page,” Hickok said of learning about the incident.
The fliers, which have offensive caricatures and stereotypes on them, were dropped off in people’s driveways. Once one neighbor saw them, they picked them up.
Lonny Willk, a representative for Anti-Defamation League Florida says there has been a rise in these fliers.
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“We’re seeing a significant rise in anti-Semitic incidents in the state of Florida.”
The anti-defamation league told me today Florida saw a 50% increase in antisemitism from 2020-2021.
“In 2021 we had a record year unbelievably. here in the state of Florida we saw a significant rise in anti-Semitic incidents targeting the Jewish community,” Wilk said.
The ADL says even if you’re not Jewish, propaganda like this needs to be rooted out.
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“Bigotry against any of us is bigotry against all of us, “he said, Adding, even if the fliers are a legal form of free speech, they’re wrong.
“I think the majority of people who live in this neighborhood are very pro-Jewish. and i do not appreciate this kind of thing,” neighbor Jim Hickoc said.
The ADL says if you see hateful fliers make sure every case is reported to the police, and to the ADL, if possible.
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