National
Roswell residents concerned after Antisemitic flyers found on lawns
ATLANTA, Georgia (WANF) — On Sunday morning, Andrea Ferrard walked to the end of her Roswell driveway to get the paper. Sitting next to it, neatly bagged up on the pavement, was a flyer that blamed Jewish people for the slave trade.
“I’ve seen them before on the news,” said Ferrad. “It was really upsetting. I’m a native, I grew up here, and this is not something that happens and it’s not okay.”
Ferrard wasn’t the only one in her neighborhood to get one – far from it. A good portion of the almost 400 homes in the Edenwilde subdivision awoke to some kind of hateful flyer on their property, from literature linking Jewish people to abortion and the immigration crisis, and urging residents to “secure a White future.”
Some flyers contained demeaning misinformation about the LGBTQ community.
“This country is built on diversity and that’s its strength,” said Ferrard. “And we should be more about love and trying to find some common ground rather than trying to sew up division.”
It’s the most recent of a string of instances like it in the metro area.
In February, similar flyers popped up in Sandy Springs and Dunwoody, and in April, they were found in East Atlanta.
“I’ve been a Rabbi in the North Fulton area for 25 years. For 24 out of the 25 years, I never heard any of this,” said Rabbi Hirshy Minkowicz with Chabad of North Fulton. “It’s exhausting yes, it’s disappointing yes, and when these things happen people start to get concerned.”
Rabbi Minkowicz pointed to the Georgia legislature’s failure to pass HB140, legislation that would have defined antisemitism and also allowed prosecutors to use hateful acts towards Jewish people as evidence when trying potential hate crimes.
“A thing like that would’ve helped a lot because it would define exactly what’s considered a crime and what’s not,” he said. “I would hope that our elected leaders would see this and this coming legislative session they’ll make sure to do what they have to do and pass that law.”
Police tell Atlanta News First that while they disagree with the things printed on the flyers, and have even identified a party responsible, there’s no crime to prosecute under Georgia law. Frightening as it is, the flyers – police say – are protected free speech.
A Q-R code on the flyers link to the homepage of the Goyim Defense League, a known and loosely organized antisemitic group that the Anti-Defamation League shows has an active presence in Georgia.
“We don’t live with fear, Jews, we’ve learned to not live with fear,” said Rabbi Minkowicz. “So a leaflet here and a leaflet there, I’ll never be scared to walk down the street. What scares me is the fact that there are people that think like this; act like this and it just seems to be growing.”
“Whether it’s your child, whether it’s your coworker, whether it’s your parents, whether it’s a spouse, whether it’s anyone in your orbit you have an ability to influence them to stay away from hateful and negative speech, that’s the part we have to do,” he continued. “It’s not something that the other guy has to take care of. Every single one of us has to play a role.”
Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
By: Pristine Villarreal
May 30, 2023
Latest Instagram Posts
☕️ Social Time with Thalia & Jerry. What are you going to be for Halloween? 🎃
Labor Day traffic is picking up in Palm Springs. If you’re heading out, our Maria Noble Valdez has what you can expect on the roads here. Be sure to stay tuned with NBC Palm Springs and nbcpalmsprings.com for more Labor Day coverage #LaborDay #LaborDayTraffic #PalmSprings #TrafficUpdate #i10
Who makes the NBC Top 3, winner will be announced Sunday night on NBC Palm Springs, with the player who makes the number one spot winning a $250 prize from @hondaofthedesert! Comment below if it will be 1) Cael Woody with the dot under pressure, 2) Tatum Webster with the pass breakup, 3) Ivan Garza with the rushing TD, 4) Sean Meza with the toe tap, or 5) Jesus. Valenzuela with the strong hands #fypage #fridaynightlights #top3 #hondaofthedesert
Me On A Plate is back! We head over to @tacquila_ps to talk to chef David Arreguin about his love of spice, being the seventh of nine children, and his drive to always follow his passion. Check it out now on our website nbcpalmsprings.com
Nearly a year after wildfires tore through Mountain Center, the scars are still visible along the Palms to Pines Highway. Now, fire crews are working to repair those burn areas and reduce the risk of flooding, erosion and mudslides when heavy rain arrives. The work includes fire-line suppression repairs, water bars and other measures designed to slow rainwater and keep burned soil from washing away. CAL FIRE Riverside County Battalion Chief Ryan Lubin says the steep terrain, dry brush and limited access continue to create challenges for mountain communities. With El Niño conditions expected to bring periods of heavy rain, officials say preparing now could help protect homes and communities from the aftermath of wildfire. The message from firefighters: preparation can save lives. Read the full story at NBCPalmSprings.com. #MountainCenter #Highway74 #PalmsToPines #CALFIRE #Wildfire WildfireRecovery FireSafety CoachellaValley SanJacintoMountains
Gas prices in Riverside County are climbing toward $6 a gallon — and that’s more than $1 higher than this time last year. A 15-gallon fill-up now costs about $86, leaving many drivers wondering how much longer they can absorb the rising cost. On this week’s Roggin Report, Fred Roggin and the panel debate how expensive gas is changing the way people travel, work and live — and why prices are so much higher here. Watch the full conversation at NBCPalmSprings.com. #RogginReport #FredRoggin #GasPrices #RiversideCounty #CoachellaValley
As the Lindsay Clancy trial begins to close, discussions regarding postpartum mental health and postpartum care have began to draw attention to the level of care needed after childbirth. Maria Noble Valdez looked at this discussion locally with a mental health expert and mom here in Coachella Valley. #lindsayclancytrial #pospartum #mentalhealth #760 #nationalnews
EVEN PARKING HAS A VIP SECTION? A mall in Bakersfield is charging shoppers up to $10 a day for preferred parking spots closer to the entrance. So we had to ask: Would you pay for a better parking spot? And could paid parking eventually come to Valley malls? Fred Roggin and the panel weigh in on this week’s Roggin Report. Would you pay $10 for a prime parking spot? #RogginReport #FredRoggin #CoachellaValley #PalmSprings #Parking
📞 Call 760.466.0800 or visit DAPHealth.org to schedule your appointment today! Flu viruses change every year, and getting vaccinated is the best way to strengthen your immune system, lower the risk of severe illness or hospitalization, and protect your loved ones. Sponsored by: DAP Health
A wedding day they’ll never forget. 💍🌊 A couple in the Philippines refused to let monsoon flooding wash away their special day — exchanging vows while standing waist-deep in floodwaters. Talk about making a splash on your wedding day! #WeddingDay #Philippines #Flooding #Monsoon #Wedding #Love #NBCPalmSprings