An anti-Semitic act in Palo Alto has raised concerns about the escalation of hate incidents against the Jewish community.
Through a press release, city authorities detailed that the event occurred on February 20 when dozens of defamatory flyers were found in several Palo Alto neighborhoods.
After investigating and documenting what happened, the city's Police Department labeled the act as a "hate incident."
While there was no indication that the recipients of the flyers were targeted in any way, the incident generated concern among the community. In this regard the City Council asked City officials for a community response of belonging and kindness.
"Our community is strengthened by its diversity. We call on all of us to unite in support of our neighbors and our community's values. We are inspired by the grace of Rabbi Levin and District Attorney Rosen, who have asked us to respond to these vile acts with actions of kindness and kindness to one another," said Pat Burt, Mayor of Palo Alto.
"Together, we can subdue the people who try to undermine our goodwill," he added after the anti-Semitic act in Palo Alto.
The fliers, similar to those found in other communities in recent months, listed various federal government officials, identifying them as Jews, plus directed people to a website with several videos advocating "certain views," many on issues of a political nature, authorities said.
"These types of acts are a reminder to all of us that hate crimes and hate incidents are serious, and that Palo Alto Police Department personnel take them seriously," said Palo Alto Police Chief Robert Jonsen.
He also noted that they will continue to review the information as it becomes available to determine whether criminal charges should be brought before the district attorney for review. "Similar, if not identical, flyers have been distributed in other Bay Area cities and elsewhere over the past several weeks."
Police do not know who distributed the flyers for the anti-Semitic event in Palo Alto, although they have confirmed that similar flyers have also been seen in other cities.
While the February 20 incident has already been documented, the Police Department encourages the reporting of any new incidents that may occur in the future.
In light of this, the City of Palo Alto encourages members of its community to immediately report hate crimes and incidents by calling the 24-hour call center at (650) 329-2413 or 911 if it is an emergency.
After several months of community engagement and conversations about race and equity, the City Council adopted the Race and Equity mission statement on November 16, 2020.
"The City of Palo Alto is committed to creating a respectful, fair and professional workplace and city. We will identify biases, eliminate inequities, embrace many perspectives, and use a collaborative approach to create an environment that works for everyone. The City's commitment to achieving equity in Palo Alto is the shared responsibility of our residents, organizations, governments and other institutions," the statement said.
To report hate crimes, the community can access more information by contacting click here.
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