ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Police Department is trying to find out if there is any action it can take regarding antisemitic activity this weekend in the Lake Nona area.
People have posted on social media that a group left antisemitic flyers at homes Sunday in the Laureate Park area, not far from Medical City.
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The police department issued a statement condemning the flyers and said it was consulting with attorneys to find out what legal action the agency could take against the groups distributing the materials.
Chief Eric Smith wants the community to know that the Orlando Police Department condemns the use of any derogatory comments toward anyone and will take any action within our power to hold anyone who does so accountable. We are a bias-free police department and respect the rights for all, regardless of any physical or personal characteristic or religious background.
Orlando Police Dept.
The incident marks the latest antisemitic activity in Central Florida.
Antisemitic material has been distributed in several places over the last few months, including in Daytona Beach during the Daytona 500 and Ormond Beach last week.
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Last month, antisemitic flyers were found in a west Orange County neighborhood. And in Orlando on New Year’s Eve, a group projected antisemitic messages on the wall of a building downtown.
Last weekend, state and local law enforcement groups increased patrols after antisemitic groups called for a “Day of Hate” across Florida.
State lawmakers are hoping to deal with the speech by increasing penalties for hate crimes in the legislative session next month in Tallahassee.
HB 269 would also make the following felony offenses: flyer distributions of antisemitic material; stalking or harassing based on religious or ethnic heritages; damaging a religious cemetery, a memorial, religious school or community/public/private property; projecting an image of antisemitic messages without permission of a property owner.
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