Nassau County officials speak out against antisemitic flyers found in several communities
ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. -- Nassau County authorities say they believe they know who is responsible for distributing Antisemitic flyers at homes in several communities.
Officials came together Monday to denounce the flyers that were found in Rockville Centre last week, then Long Beach over the weekend, and now Oceanside.
Investigators said the flyers were the work of an anti-Jewish group.
As CBS2's Jennifer McLogan reports, Laura Sinberg and her Oceanside neighbors are astounded over unwanted messages of hate.
"My husband sees this on the driveway and then we look all the way up and down, across the street, all the houses, we open it up and see it's nothing but antisemitic hatred," Sinberg said.
More than 30 families from Oceanside, Rockville Centre and Long Beach have called police, victims of flyers containing divisive rhetoric.
"They ride by like a newspaper guy in the morning and chuck it out the window onto a lawn or sidewalk," said Nassau Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder.
The flyers are in bags, weighed down with rice or beans, claiming free speech to say President Joe Biden's administration is controlled by Jewish mystics.
"This is coming from the first Jewish county executive in Nassau County: We will not tolerate that kind of hate speech," Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said.
The Jewish community began gathering in Nassau County in the 1850s. The Long Island director of the American Jewish Committee says antisemitism there remains underreported.
"When we called the precinct, they did that this neighborhood for some reason had an awful lot. We are disgusted, my whole family," said Carmella Pacifico.
An interfaith minister was also targeted.
"People are blind. They can't see that we all come from the same divine spark. We all a cup of the ocean," said Rev. Valerie Gray-Gower.
Police believe the source is an antisemitic internet trolling network trying to alarm and entice.
Earlier this year, the Proud Boys marched through the community amid complaints menorahs were too large.
"We have to reach out and embrace one another," said Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum of the North American Board of Rabbis. "There is a culture in this country of pushing each other away."
Detectives are looking at doorbell video.
"We have pulled cameras and have it narrowed down to a white vehicle, we believe it's a Prius," Ryder said.
Police are urging the community to call in tips.
"We contacted the attorney, the so-called attorney that would represent a group like this, and spoke to him about what he says is free speech," Ryder said. "We're telling you it's not free speech when you come and harass and annoy the people here in Nassau County."
"We're going to stand up to those cowards. They are not going to create an atmosphere of hate," Blakeman said.
