In a startling display of anti-Semitism, hateful leaflets containing anti-Jewish language were once again discovered in communities across the Town of Hempstead Saturday night. Reports from the Five Towns area in the township’s southwest noted that the leaflets were propagating untrue, anti-Semitic conspiracy theories and were likely distributed sometime overnight in the cover of darkness. The hate-filled flyers drew a forceful and united response from the Town of Hempstead officials representing the communities in which they were discovered in – Supervisor Don Clavin, Councilman Anthony D’Esposito and Councilwoman Melissa Miller – as well as from area Jewish faith leaders dismayed by the flyers’ message of hatred and division.
In a joint statement on the incident, Supervisor Don Clavin, Councilman Anthony D’Esposito and Councilwoman Melissa Miller condemned the distribution of the anti-Semitic flyers, and vowed to support the police investigation into the incident:
"Yet again, a local community has been blanketed with hateful, anti-Semitic flyers that propagate lies and dangerous falsehoods targeting our Jewish neighbors. This disgusting display of prejudice has no place in our hometown, or anywhere in this country. We are outraged that such vile conspiracists think they have a platform to spread their evil message - it will not be tolerated in the Town of Hempstead. This group of evildoers has further revealed themselves, and we will continue doing everything in our power to support ongoing investigations seeking to bring down this network of malicious propagandists. To our Jewish friends, family members and loved ones - you are an integral part of this community. We stand with you. We will not let hate win."
The trio of Hempstead Town officials have been in close contact with members of the area’s Jewish community since the initial discovery of the flyers; reaffirming their commitment to safeguarding those impacted by such prejudiced attacks.
"I am outraged at the discovery of anti-Semitic flyers in the Town of Hempstead, and the perpetrators responsible who polluted our township with such vile garbage. Anti-Semites continue to target our hometown knowing full well this community has long been a welcoming place for the Jewish people, as well as peoples of all religious and cultural backgrounds. My colleagues and I on the Town Board intend to safeguard this reputation of inclusivity, and will remain engaged with Jewish faith and civic leaders as the investigation continues," said Clavin.
"Once again, residents of Hempstead Town awoke to discover vile, anti-Semitic flyers littering their neighborhood. These horrific pamphlets containing lies, untrue conspiracies and disgusting language are a blatant attack on our hometown's thriving Jewish community. I condemn the perpetrators behind this propaganda campaign, and pledge to continue supporting the law enforcement investigation into the group responsible for these hate pieces. Let me be abundantly clear - there is no place for anti-Semitism or hatred of any kind in the Town of Hempstead. This township stands united in support of our Jewish neighbors," said D'Esposito.
"I am once again dismayed at the hatred being perpetrated against the Jewish community via the distribution of vile, anti-Semitic flyers recently discovered across the township. The falsehoods and hurtful conspiracies targeting the Jewish people contained in these leaflets is an example of the organized hate that is sadly still alive and well today - hate that must be uniformly condemned. I stand alongside my colleagues on the Town Board, fellow members of the Jewish community, and all people of good will in denouncing those responsible for distributing these anti-Semitic flyers. I look forward to aiding the law enforcement investigation into this incident in whatever way possible, and the bringing of these perpetrators to justice. Hate has no home here in Hempstead Town," said Miller.
In addition to their open lines of communication with members of the public impacted by the anti-Semitic leaflets, Supervisor Clavin, Councilman D’Esposito and Councilwoman Miller have consulted with Jewish faith leaders from across the township, who shared the town officials’ dismay at the discovery of the flyers.
“I was horrified by this blatant spread of hatred and anti-Semitism, and I call the people of all walks of life, no matter affiliation, Jew or gentile let’s combat darkness with light, let us add acts of goodness and kindness, let’s make a difference in this world in a positive fashion one good deed at a time,” said Rabbi S. Zalman Wolowik, of the Chabad of the Five Towns.
In response to the discovery of the anti-Semitic flyers, the Town of Hempstead will be stepping up public safety patrols in areas near Jewish houses of worship in order to provide palpable support for the impacted communities.
