Officials: Boca Raton, West Palm Beach antisemitic displays during weekend are related
WEST PALM BEACH — Two acts of antisemitism that officials say are related tainted a celebratory Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. weekend in Palm Beach County.
On Saturday, residents of a Boca Raton neighborhood found antisemitic flyers sitting in their driveways and on their front yards. The flyers, packed into Ziploc bags, displayed what one resident described as an obscene antisemitic message. About a handful of pellets also were left in each bag, which, it is assumed, were used to weigh the bags down.
On Saturday night, West Palm Beach police received calls about hateful images and messages projected onto the side of an AT&T building at 325 Gardenia St. Near the building in a public garage, officers found two men wearing masks and a rented truck with a projector and a generator, West Palm Beach police spokesman Mike Jachles said.
Police questioned the men, who would not identify themselves or provide any other information.
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"They were not cooperative," Jachles said, adding that the men were not arrested that night.
The police department's Intelligence Unit is continuing to investigate and is consulting with the State Attorney's Office, which would determine what charges, if any, the men would face if arrested.
The two departments are working together on both incidents, and Jachles said the incidents involve the same group of people.
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It’s not the first time Floridians have had antisemitic flyers distributed to them. In July 2022, law-enforcement agencies reported finding antisemitic flyers in cities throughout Florida, including Boca Raton, Sarasota, Fort Myers, Fort Pierce, Vero Beach and Orlando.
In Jacksonville, a similar image and message of hate was projected on the side of the CSX building downtown. CSX said it condemns in the strongest possible terms the antisemitic imagery, saying it is hurtful and in no way represents the company or its employees.
"We've communicated with Boca and other agencies," Jachles said. "We've determined that this is related to the group of hate-mongers going around spreading hate."
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The law does not allow for officers to make an arrest unless there is a violation of the law, Jachles said. He described the antisemitic acts as "sickening."
"We're a welcoming city," he said. "We're a diverse city. We welcome anything, but we don't welcome hate. It's sickening to see."
The general rise of antisemitism has been gearing up for the past 15 years, according to Josephine Gon, vice president of the Jewish Community Relations Council at the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County.
But each year, acts of hate are increasing, according to a report conducted by the Anti-Defamation League of Florida that details instances of extremism and antisemitism in Florida from 2020-2022.
"These people are not welcome here," Gon said of the perpetrators. "They're a small group of haters, who we hope will get the message from the wider community that they're not welcome."
During the weekend, Gon pointed out, thousands of people came together for a day of service to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at various events in Palm Beach County.
"Now that's the community we are," she said. "That's the community we're going to strive to achieve."
West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James also condemned the attacks.
“I am deeply saddened by the heinous and despicable act of hate and violence against our community on Saturday night," he said. "These actions are not tolerated in West Palm Beach, a City of inclusion and diversity. Demonstrations like this deepen my commitment to ensure that West Palm Beach remains a place where all are welcomed and respected, regardless of their origin or faith."
Jasmine Fernández is a journalist covering Delray Beach and Boca Raton at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at jfernandez@pbpost.com and follow her on Twitter at @jasminefernandz. Help support our work. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: West Palm, Boca Raton antisemitic displays are related, police say
