Police Investigating Anti-Semitic Fliers Distributed Sunday in Several Pasadena Neighborhoods

Fliers filled with antisemitic rhetoric about the Coronavirus pandemic were found at homes in several Pasadena neighborhoods on Sunday, according to a city spokesperson.

The Pasadena Police Department was alerted to the fliers early Sunday morning. About 200 fliers were distributed.

The fliers were left in a four-block area of the city stuffed in plastic bags and left on driveways, according to Pasadena police Lt. Anthony Burgess.

The streets on which they were found were Washington Boulevard, Mentor
Avenue, Catalina Avenue and Wilson Avenue, according to Pasadena city
spokeswoman Lisa Derderian.

“Every Single Aspect of the COVID Agenda Is Jewish,” the fliers said. The fliers also mentioned health and corporate officials and alleged they were Jewish.

A police spokesperson told the L.A. Times the leaflets were in plastic bags with pebbles to weigh them down and distributed from a passing car in a four-block area of the city.

Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo denounced the attacks on Sunday in a city statement.

“The Pasadena City Council stands united in our zero-tolerance position against all forms of hate speech, which has no place in our city,” Gordo said.

“The distribution of anti-Semitic fliers in Pasadena and other southern California communities over the weekend is abhorrent and totally goes against the values of our city and its residents. Our thoughts are with our residents and all those hurt by these disgusting acts. We know Pasadena residents—of all faiths—will stand together and speak out against hatred in all forms.”

Jason Moss, the Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys, told Pasadena Now in an email Sunday evening that “the Jewish community is absolutely appalled by this latest antiSemitic incident and act of hate that took place earlier today. To blame the Jewish community not only for the spread of COVID and the institution of safety protocols and measures to help our country confront a worldwide pandemic that is affecting everyone is abhorrent.”

“In addition, to promote a long-standing belief that there is a world-wide Jewish conspiracy is repulsive,” Moss said.

“These acts of hate and vitriolic language affect all of us and people need to stand up and call them out wherever and whenever they see it.”

Papers with the same language turned up in Beverly Hills late last month.