ZIONISM EQUATED WITH NAZISM AND STAR OF DAVID COMPARED TO SWASTIKA

Anti-Semitic flyers found early this week near West Valley schools, police say

By Ariella Plachta

Los Angeles Daily News
March 21, 2019

Police on Wednesday continued investigating multiple anti-Semitic flyers found plastered near West Valley schools earlier this week, and they encouraged anyone with information to contact investigators.

The posters plastered on and around at least two campuses were printed with swastikas and offensive messages equating Nazism with Zionism and the state of Israel. At least five of the flyers were found Monday morning around El Camino Real Charter High School in Woodland Hills, and another one along the perimeter of Nestle Avenue Charter Elementary School.

The text asks if the swastika is “a hate symbol,” and then asks “what about this?” above a Jewish Star of David. “The murder of innocent women and children by a Rothschild led Jewish Zionist armed militia to forcibly confiscate the Land of Palestine now known as Israel,” read the flyers.

Another wrote, “What’s the difference between crackheads and Jews?” Previous reports alleged that the flyers were also found near Calabasas High School and the Westfield Topanga shopping center.

“LAPD is aware of several offensive posters that were found at different locations in the San Fernando Valley,” said LAPD media relations division in a statement. “Detectives from our West Valley and Topanga divisions are handling this as a hate incident and are encouraging anyone who may have information about this to contact investigators.”

Daniel Chang, the chief compliance officer at El Camino, said flyers were removed from near the campus and submitted to the LAPD by campus police.

“We have no reason to believe any of our students or staff members were involved in this incident,” he said.

Nestle Elementary Principal Cheryl Gray-Sortino made a call to parents Monday informing them of “an incident that occurred today, when an anti-Semitic message was posted near the kindergarten gate,” adding that extra patrols were brought to the campus Tuesday.

A Los Angeles Unified School District spokeswoman issued the following statement:

“We are deeply disturbed by the recent incident at Nestle Elementary School. Los Angeles Unified condemns acts of anti-Semitism and any other symbols of hate. We remain committed to educating students about cultural and religious diversity and the important values tolerance and inclusion.”

Sergeant Julie Spry with LAUSD School Police said they are working in conjunction with city police.

Local congressman Brad Sherman responded to the incident Wednesday morning with a statement: “I know that Valley residents of all faiths condemn this hateful act and those that are responsible for disseminating these flyers around the Valley. Whether in our community, across the nation, or around the world, these types of hateful, anti-Semitic sentiments have no place in modern society.”

Earlier this month, Orange County teens drew outrage after performing Nazi salutes while posing for photos at a party as they stood next to cups arranged in the shape of a swastika while playing drinking games at a party. The incident prompted widespread outrage. Later, many students expressed remorse.

The incident raised a national discussion of a rise in anti-Semitic incidents at schools and colleges around the country, nearly doubling in 2017 from 2016, according to data collected by the Anti-Defamation League. ADL logged 457 anti-Semitic incidents in non-Jewish schools in 2017, up from 235 in 2016 and 114 in 2015. K-12 schools also surpassed public areas as the places with the most reported incidents.