Neo-Nazi group puts racist 'Send Them Back' posters on Seattle synagogues
Police are investigating after racist, anti-immigrant fliers were found at two South Seattle synagogues on Sunday.
The posters depict a cartoon of an outstretched arm representing “America” and U.S. Reps. Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Ayanna Pressley "biting the hand that feeds them.” The cartoon was originally drawn by political cartoonist Antonio F. Branco. Above the illustration on the posters are the words, "Send them back," and underneath, "Deport the commie brown infestation."
Yesterday, the 3 synagogues in my Southeast Seattle neighborhood were plastered with racist, Trumpist, anti-Semitic flyers touting the Nazi website, Daily Stormer.
Actual Nazis are promoting themselves using Trump's own language. But, you know, both sides! pic.twitter.com/nC41x8rR5G— Goldy (@GoldyHA) August 12, 2019
The posters allude to President Donald Trump's controversial tweet in July, telling the four congresswomen to "go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came." Following the tweet, at Trump's campaign rally in Greenville, N.C., the crowd broke out in the chant, "Send her back!"
Local residents believe that Trump's rhetoric is directly connected to the flyers.
"This is the language that Trump is telling the American public, 'Hey it's okay,'" neighbor David Goldstein told Q13 News. "And suddenly it's appearing on Nazi fliers taped to the doors of synagogues."
The fliers are signed by the Daily Stormer Book Club, a neo-Nazi, white supremacist, and Holocaust denial group, according to the Anti-Defamation League.
ADL Pacific Northwest Regional Director Miri Cypers said in a statement to Yahoo Lifestyle: “We are deeply troubled by the recent string of anti-Semitic and anti-immigrant flyers being posted at synagogues and churches across the Seattle area. In a recent trend that we have observed across the country, these cowardly acts are meant to spread hateful and racist propaganda — sowing seeds of hate against our most vulnerable. Synagogues and other religious institutions are places of worship, community, and safety. ADL commends law enforcement for their swift response and encourages community members to continue reporting hateful propaganda to ADL and local law enforcement.”
The Seattle Police issued a statement as well: "A witness reported seeing a white male wearing a black baseball hat, a black face mask, dark aviator sunglasses, a black zip-up hooded sweatshirt carrying a black suitcase outside the synagogue around the time the flier was found. SPD’s bias crimes detective is investigating the incident, as well as a similar one at another synagogue. Police have also been conducting additional patrols around area synagogues."
Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact Seattle Police.
Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:
McDonald’s fires employee accused of insulting police officer: 'I don't like y'all'
Eugenie Bouchard accused of 'fishing for compliments' after posting photo of 'fat' stomach
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.
