SAN DIEGO — Over the past year, San Diego has seen an alarming rise in the number of so-called "hate littering" acts, in which extremists have flooded neighborhoods with anti-Semitic and anti-LGBTQ fliers.
San Carlos is one of several communities in San Diego County that have been targeted by extremists. with residents waking up to find hate-filled fliers on their car windshields, driveways and doorsteps.
Newly proposed legislation, building on laws already on the books, aims to crack down on this on a statewide level. to make neighborhoods safer.
"These acts have no place in our communities," said San Diego Assembly Member Chris Ward (D- 78th), who authored AB 3024. Known as the 'Stop Hate Littering Act,' this is in response to an alarming uptick in hate incidents, including anti-Semitic and anti-LGBTQ acts.
He said these fliers have become the 'method of choice' for hate groups to sow division, "because these fliers are highly personal, and allow these cowards to attempt to remain anonymous in the shadows, escaping accountability," he added. "But no more!"
Ward said that, currently, it's extremely difficult for law enforcement to go after these offenders, because distributing fliers falls into a legal grey area. At a press conference Friday, though, he made it clear that there is no ambiguity over the intent of 'hate littering'.
"These fliers are a deliberate effort to intimidate and to terrify the people they are targeting to turn neighbors again neighbors, and to make the victims feel afraid to be themselves," Ward said.
"In San Diego, and in California, we have to put a stop to hate littering,: said San Diego City Council Member Raul Campillo, whose district has seen a rise in these anonymous incidents.
Campillo had been pushing for a local ordinance. He said this statewide effort will be even more effective.
"They cannot just simply cross from the city of San Diego into the city of La Mesa into the city of El Cajon and think that they are going to be able to get away with this," he added. "We are going to protect all Californians with this bill."
Fabienne Perlov of the San Diego chapter of the Anti-Defamation League said that last year alone. there were more than 3600 anti-Semitic acts reported nationwide: the highest number on record since 1979, when started tracking these incidents.
"We have seen a a dangerous and rapid rise in anti-Semitic incidents across the state," Perlov said, "including right here in San Diego."
This new bill builds on existing legislation known as 'the Ralph Act of 1976,' which established that everyone has the right to be free from violence and intimidation. Under this law, convicted offenders can face civil penalties of $25,000.
"We must hold these bigots responsible for their actions," Ward said.
The first Assembly hearing on AB 3024 is set for April 2.
For more information on the 'Stop Hate Littering Act' click here.
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