Someone is throwing flyers with antisemitic messages in the driveways of one Athens, Georgia, neighborhood.
Neighbors and the Jewish community are calling on law enforcement to step in, saying it's another example of hate in Georgia.
John Watkins says he first noticed the flyers on Thursday. He said he was taking the trash out when he noticed the propaganda's messaging.
"I was kind of disgusted and kind of sad," Watkins said.
The flyers contain hateful messages and images seemingly aimed at the Jewish community.
NGO StopAntisemitism has been tracking these antisemitic incidents and attributes the anti-Jewish flyer to the white supremacist group, the Goyim Defense League (GDL). The GDL is led by Jon Minadeo II. Minadeo was cited last week for distributing similar flyers in Florida. Florida has recently advanced legislation that would charge individuals like Minadeo with a series of felonies when distributing these hateful flyers.
Under the new legislation, those caught distributing antisemitic flyers like GDL has over the past nearly 5 years will be charged with a felony.
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) March 9, 2023
More on HB269 here: https://t.co/z74LbBnWN3
Watkins says he expected more from his community. "We're better than this," he said. "It's 2023, and we're stepping back."
Rabbi Eric Linder with Congregation Children of Israel in Athens has noticed a rise in antisemitism now spreading from other cities in Georgia, such as Atlanta and Cartersville, to Athens.
"It is absolutely scary. And it's something that we have to take seriously," Linder said. "And it just shows the unfortunate reality that antisemitism continues to be real."
Linder has already been hearing from his congregation. He's hoping the hate doesn't turn into a bigger issue.
"The support and friendship that we have from our community are absolutely there," Linder said, "And I have no question that, even with this incident, it is by far the minority."