By Sooji Nam
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LAKE WORTH, Florida (WPBF) — Tina Podhurst was shocked when she discovered antisemitic pamphlets on her driveway over the weekend.
She has been residing in the Lake Worth neighborhood for about 15 years and says one thing like this has by no means occurred to her earlier than.
“This is so horrible that this is going on in the world,” Podhurst advised WPBF 25 News.
She stated she’s been a sufferer of hate speech all through her life.
“Growing up in the south, I’ve had things said to me, I’ve been saluted,” she stated. “I’m scared to leave my house now.”
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office stated they obtained related pamphlets at their headquarters over the weekend.
“This is despicable, and it’s cowardly. Make no mistake, this is a cowardly act to throw this on individuals’ driveways because they do it in the dark of night. And then they slink away under the cover of darkness, so they are not seen,” Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg advised WPBF 25 News.
This incident makes one of a number of latest circumstances of antisemitism in Palm Beach County.
Earlier this month, suspects used a projector to show swastika symbols over the AT&T constructing in West Palm Beach. Police stated they’re working with the State Attorney’s workplace to see what costs could also be probably filed.
“I’m supposed to feel safe as an American. And I don’t. I don’t feel safe at all,” Podhurst stated.
The sheriff’s workplace stated no costs will likely be filed in the case of these pamphlets due to freedom of speech.
“Even hate speech gets constitutional protection. Now, if the hate is accompanied by a crime, like assault, battery, then we can use our anti-hate crime law to charge the crime and enhance the penalty. But there is no separate hate crime law in Florida. There’s no crime in throwing this stuff – unless they throw in on the ground, that’s littering,” Aronberg stated. “There was a law in the books that would make their actions illegal. But it was thrown out by the courts as unconstitutional because the first amendment provides broad protection.”
In order to crack down on this problem, the Palm Beach County Mayor, sheriff’s workplace, state lawyer’s workplace, members of the Jewish Federation, and legislators will likely be assembly on Tuesday to delve deeper into the legal guidelines and ordinances.
“Legislators can go back to Tallahassee and hopefully look at the laws of broadcasting messages on private buildings, without the owner’s consent. Perhaps they can make that a crime. It’s not a crime right now,” Aronberg stated. “Perhaps they can give local governments more power to enforce anti-littering laws to really hit these folks in the pocketbook. Make them pick up trash on the highways too.”
“I would love to charge these individuals with crimes, I want to hold them accountable, but unfortunately, there’s no law in the books to do so. So, what the community is doing is the right thing in coming together and having rallies, and having meetings to show that hate will never be acceptable in Palm Beach County,” he stated.
“We’re Jewish and proud of it,” Podhurst stated.
“If their intent was to divide us, if their intent was to scare us, if their intent was to generate lots of new supporters, they failed on all those things,” Aronberg stated.
Watch: Jewish neighborhood reacts to antisemitic show at FAU because the college denounces group’s presence
Podhurst had a message for whoever was behind this over the weekend.
“Please stop. It’s not fair, it’s not fair,” she stated.
The county roundtable dialogue is closed doorways, and WPBF 25 News will deliver all of the updates as we be taught them.
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