'Vile Filth:' Sen. Kaplan Sounds Alarm About Incendiary Flyers On LI
Originally published in
Patch.com
A Jewish state senator is sounding the alarm about "the vile filth being disseminated by extremist groups" after flyers targeting Jewish and transgender communities cropped up on Long Island.
New York Sen. Anna Kaplan (D-North Hills) — an outspoken advocate for both historically marginalized groups — emailed supporters Friday regarding the incendiary leaflets spotted around Rockville Centre and Oceanside. She says they were produced by a far-right group called Goyim Defense League and claimed that President Joseph Biden's administration is controlled by Jewish people.
"Under no circumstances can we remain silent in the face of the vile filth being disseminated by extremist groups seeking to poison our community with their repulsive rhetoric," Kaplan wrote. "The antisemitic trash being spread ... is just the latest in a long string of recent incidents impacting our community that are driven by antisemitism and hate, and we all need to stand together and send a strong message that we will never accept these groups or their shameful, un-American beliefs in our community."
According to Kaplan, one flyer included the headline "LET'S GO, BRANDON" — a shorthand to insult President Joe Biden — and photos of Jewish members of the Biden administration, along with their names, titles, and an Israeli flag. Two of the individuals were reportedly marked "transgender" in red writing.
The second side of the flyer reportedly had the headline, "THE PROTOCOLS OF THE LEARNED ELDERS OF ZION," with the subhead, "THE JEW'S PLAN FOR WORLD DOMINATION."
Across the state, elected officials are condemning the flyers.
At a news conference on Friday, Rockville Centre Mayor Francis Murray said he was "infuriated" by the flyers and promised to increase patrols in communities.
Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin called them "unacceptable," while Gov. Kathy Hochul said these "offensive tropes and despicable conspiracy theories have no place in our state."
Police investigations are now underway.
