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By Miriam Raftery
A report has been filed with La Mesa Police by a resident disturbed over anti-Semitic flyers found across her 73rd Street neighborhood on Sunday morning.
“The police found them throughout at least West La Mesa, where I live, and have collected enough for evidence,” says Jane Peterson, who filed a report. An officer advised her that “LMPD had already received calls and they were investigating it.” LMPD is interested in viewing any surveillance video community members might have to help identify those distributing the flyers and their vehicle (s), she adds. “I hope that La Mesa has a plan in place to stop this in its tracks immediately.”
The flyer blamed Jews for controlling the media, an anti-Semitic trope that has been debunked repeatedly over the years.
La Mesa has struggled to combat increased anti-Semitic incidents in recent months. Anti-Semitic flyers have been distributed anonymously in some La Mesa neighborhoods, as well as in surrounding communities.
After anti-Semitic rants by public speakers during a La Mesa City Council meeting, the City Council in February voted 4-1 to ban all remote public comments.
The City Council has also passed a resolution supporting a proposed state measure that would create a new crime for distributing materials with hate speech on private property with the property owner’s consent.
“It’s important for police to monitor this and put it together with hate speech and incidents taking place,” says Councilman Jack Shu.
Shu suggested that if anyone can describe a vehicle used by those disseminating the flyers, the city’s new license-plate reading camera system might be able to identify the vehicle and lead to the suspects.
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