A new wave of antisemitic flyers distributed in La Mesa and eastern San Diego neighborhoods this weekend is being condemned by local Jewish leaders and groups that aim to boost civil discourse.
The flyers, which were distributed in La Mesa, San Carlos and possibly other areas, come as San Diego city officials consider a proposed law that would criminalize distributing such flyers with as long as a year in jail or fines up to $1,000.
While such flyers began getting distributed in parts of the nation more than four years ago, a local surge began in June and has focused on La Jolla, Poway and eastern neighborhoods including Allied Gardens and Del Cerro.
San Diego police said last month they were investigating at least eight incidents where antisemitic flyers were distributed in city neighborhoods.
Distribution of the flyers hasn’t intensified since the Israel-Hamas war began two weeks ago, but it has remained steady and strong, said Liora Rez, executive director of the nonprofit advocacy group Stop Antisemitism.
Her group says the flyers are distributed by the Goyim Defense League, an organization Stop Antisemitism describes as neo-Nazi and white supremacist.
The local chapter of the Anti-Defamation League agrees that the flyers are being distributed by white supremacists who have clear motives.
“Their goal is creating fear and anxiety in our communities,” said Fabienne Perlov, the local chapter’s executive director.
To radicalize followers and attract more of them, she says the group posts videos online of the flyers being distributed — usually during early morning hours to escape detection.
The proposed San Diego law, which is being spearheaded by Councilmember Raul Campillo, would re-define distributing such flyers as hate littering — more serious than a hate incident but less serious than a hate crime.
Because these activities are now classified by the city’s municipal code as only hate incidents, the city’s ability to punish the behavior — and deter it — is limited. The shift to hate littering would change that.
Rez said she hopes the San Diego law can become a model that spreads across California. Florida recently passed a statewide law to strengthen criminal penalties for distributing such flyers, she said.
Perlov said the Anti-Defamation League supports the proposed San Diego law.
“We are concerned and we are forcefully condemning these types of actions and we are pushing for solutions,” she said. “We are calling on elected officials to speak up and we are happy that many already have.”
Some of the flyers distributed in La Mesa this weekend say Jews played a key role in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, that there are many Jewish spies in the U.S., and other claims that aren’t backed with evidence.
The flyers have a note at the bottom saying “these flyers were distributed randomly without malicious intent.”
Amy Reichert, a La Mesa resident running for county supervisor, said she received one of the flyers Sunday morning.
“Finding this on my driveway this morning was heartbreaking,” she said. “I was raised Jewish, had a Bat Mitzvah, gave my heart to Christ when I was 35 years old.”
Heidi Knuff, executive director of the San Diego Diplomacy Council, said the new wave of flyers is a reminder of the importance of civic discourse and the need to break down barriers between groups.
“We are trying to build bridges between San Diego and the rest of the world,” she said.
The Diplomacy Council organizes professional, cultural and educational experiences that connect people and organizations. That includes encouraging people to host dinners where they invite guests from different backgrounds.
