White supremacy, anti-Semitic flyers found in DC neighborhoods
WASHINGTON - Anti-Semitic and white supremacy flyers are popping up in neighborhoods in Northwest D.C. and it is not the first time pamphlets like this have appeared in the D.C. region.
Some residents said when they saw the flyers on their front doorstep, they were shocked to see them.
"I felt angry, I felt offended, I felt scared and I felt sad," said Lori Milstein.
She found a two-sided pamphlet of nonsensical and hateful rhetoric left on nearly every doorstep of her tucked-away street in Glover Park. The pamphlet was mostly anti-Semitic.
Milstein's family is Jewish. But her neighbors who are not Jewish also got the anonymous delivery. She does not think her home was targeted.
"I talked to my neighbors and it was targeted to all different racial, religious groups," she said. "It wasn't specific to our family because we are Jewish."
When Milstein sought insight from Facebook friends, one person wrote, "We had this in shepherd park two years ago. I think the messenger is on a bicycle."
Milstein cannot say who left the folded sheet of paper scattered through her neighborhood. But online, this same pamphlet has been floating around for years. Comments have been left by residents across the District who say they have also been recipients of the paper that asks for war on Jews.
"Across all races and religion, there are a lot of people now who feel free to express these beliefs," said Milstein.
D.C. police are aware of the flyers being distributed in this neighborhood.
White supremacy fliers were found on cars close to a bar near Shaw on Sunday.
Showtime Bar said it found several fliers near the 100 block of Rhode Island Ave, NW, that appeared to be from Vanguard America, a self-proclaimed white supremacist organization.
"Defending your people is a social duty, not an antisocial crime," the signs read.
The fliers appeared to be rewording a tag-line widely implemented to advocate against fascism, "Fighting fascism is a social duty, not an antisocial crime."
Showtime Bar also reported a group of about six people who took down the Pride flag hanging on the bar's window at about midnight.
There was no direct evidence linking the two incidents.
Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie of Ward 5 made a statement denouncing the fliers:
"Let me state in no uncertain terms that bigotry is not welcome in Ward 5 or the District of Columbia. I have spent my career fighting for civil rights and working to dismantle the legacy of discrimination that still exists in our society. Ward 5 will not be intimidated by cowards who distribute these disgusting flyers anonymously, and we will defend and embrace the beautiful diversity of our city and community."