San Diego City Councilman Raul Campillo Thursday announced legislation he is working on to strengthen laws that would deter hateful incidents like dozens of antisemitic flyers found on car windshields in Allied Gardens in July.
"The perpetrators of these antisemitic crimes won't just stop `flyering' out of the goodness of their hearts -- they need strong laws to deter them, and our laws on the books now aren't forceful enough," Campillo said. "My office is actively working on legislation to address this disparity. I want the community to be the first to know that we are taking action on this. Help is on the way to stop these hateful incidents."
Campillo's ordinance would amend and expand the city's municipal code, making it a misdemeanor for any person to litter "with the intent to willfully injure, intimidate, interfere with, oppress or threaten any other person based on their perceived characteristics," a statement from his office read. The ordinance will come before Public Safety Committee and ultimately the City Council in coming months.
Campillo was joined Thursday by Jewish leaders, anti-hate organizations, law enforcement, other faith leaders and members of the community, who were on hand to show their support for action to address these crimes. These groups included Jewish watchdog organization, StopAntisemitism.
"StopAntisemitism has been tracking these vile flyers for years and we know that they are more than just trolling -- they're inciting hate," said Liora Rez, executive director of StopAntisemitism, a national nonpartisan organization dedicated to fighting antisemitism. "That's why we are proud to work with Councilmember Campillo on this initiative because taking action to hold these bigots accountable is in everyone's best interest."
StopAntisemitism is proud to be working with San Diego Councilmember Raul Campillo on a new city ordinance that will criminalize littering of antisemitic flyers.
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) September 7, 2023
A special thank you to San Diego law enforcement for everything you do keeping San Diegans safe. pic.twitter.com/zHuwh9Y5KD
San Diego has seen multiple antisemitic flyering incidents in recent months largely taking place in District 7, represented by Campillo. According to his office, under current law, the city attorney has limited ability to prosecute these incidents of hateful littering.
In July, the antisemitic flyers were found on car windshields on Zion and Archwood streets in the Allied Gardens area. Just days before, a rabbi was assaulted at a convenience store near San Diego State.
"The Jewish community is thankful for the support, friendship and partnership of our many neighbors and friends who have stood with us time and again in the face of blind hatred aimed at our people," said Devorah Marcus, senior rabbi at Temple Emanu-El and Former Chair of the San Diego Rabbinical Association. "San Diego has a long and rich history of being a multicultural city of diversity and we celebrate the beauty of our diversity with all of our neighbors.
"We want to thank our neighbor and friend, Councilmember Campillo, for focusing on action that will hold the peddlers of hate and incitement accountable for their actions and dissemination of libelous slander that leads directly to violence and death," Marcus said.
Earlier this year, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors signed a resolution denouncing antisemitic rhetoric and hate crimes, citing rising antisemetic crimes in recent years.