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White Supremacist Groups Litter Antisemitic Propaganda Throughout Florida Beaches

Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach were targeted Sunday with antisemitic literature, police say, a day after white supremacists stood on the pedestrian bridge over International Speedway Boulevard holding anti-Jewish signs.

Daytona Beach police Chief Jakari Young said on Saturday, dubbed the group behind the speedway demonstration "First Amendment auditors."

Young said they are monitoring the group and that it is known to bait police with its actions.

"Their goal is for us to take the bait so we can do something that violates their rights and so they can sue the city," Young said. Young said the group was not seen around the International Speedway on Sunday.

However, StopAntisemitism, a nonprofit group that fights antisemitism, tweeted Sunday that the groups responsible were the "Goyim Defense League" and "NatSoc Florida." The GDL and their leader, Jon Minadeo II, are known for dumping antisemitic propaganda in yards in multiple cities and hoisting banners similar to the ones displayed Sunday.

As for the distribution of propaganda, Young said, "the person responsible for distributing this material wants to promote fear, hatred, and division! We strongly denounce any form of hate or discrimination toward any individual or community."

Ormond Beach Police Chief Jesse Godfrey released a statement Sunday decrying the action in his city. Neither Young nor Godfrey provided details on who was behind it or what was actually distributed.

"As chief of police, I want to make it clear that the Ormond Beach Police Department is deeply troubled by the recent distribution of antisemitic propaganda throughout our city," Godfrey wrote in a statement. "This behavior is unacceptable, and we strongly denounce any form of hate or discrimination toward any individual or community."

Both police chiefs said they stand in solidarity with the Jewish communities in their cities and will not tolerate actions that go against their departments' missions.

"We are calling on our great community partners to assist with this investigation," Young said, urging citizens of Daytona Beach to come forward.