Uniting to Counter Antisemitism on Our Doorsteps

In the last two weeks of April, we unfortunately witnessed a resurgence of neo-Nazi flyers in Marin, Santa Cruz, the Peninsula, and San Jose. The flyers do not signal an imminent violent threat and are a form of harassment meant to incite outrage and undermine our community’s sense of security.

As noted in a recent in-depth story by J. The Jewish News of Northern California, for over a year, followers of the self-styled Goyim Defense League have printed these flyers at home, put them in Ziplock bags, and deliberately scattered them around residential areas in a calculated effort to provoke anger and normalize antisemitic hate.

As we await new laws that criminalize this activity, we remain aware that it will continue to occur with varying degrees of frequency and in different locations.

If you come across flyers or any other form of hate activity in your vicinity, there are a few things you can do. If you feel physically threatened, call 911. Otherwise, call the non-emergency number for your local police to report the incident. Additionally, let us know by completing an Incident Reporting Form, which alerts our Community Security Program and Secure Community Network (SCN). It's important to avoid interacting with provocateurs. The Goyim Defense League's supporters aim to elicit a response and use videos of confrontations to fundraise on their live-stream channel, GoyimTV. Refrain from taking the bait or providing them with gratification.  

The Federation is taking action in partnership with the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL):  

The Federation’s Community Security Program monitors incidents and coordinates with the SCN and local law enforcement to assist with investigating hate cases. Furthermore, we continue to work with community leaders and lawmakers to educate about antisemitism and combat its spread. Our advocacy efforts have resulted in the passing of California Assembly Bill 2282 (Bauer-Kahan) last year, which criminalizes the use of hate symbols, such as nooses, Nazi swastikas, or burning of a religious symbol, to intimidate individuals. And we persist in our advocacy for public policies that combat antisemitism and allocate funding for safety improvements.  

The Federation is also expanding its reach throughout Nothern California, offering its security services to more organizations through a matching grant—for every $2 contributed by an individual, the Federation will receive an additional $1 from Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA). 

Our collective strength emanates from our shared solidarity and collaborative efforts. Staying alert and attentive helps us feel more secure when participating in daily Jewish life.

The need for security at Jewish organizations has become increasingly urgent in recent years due to a significant rise in antisemitic incidents and threats—from physical attacks to hate speech, vandalism, and online harassment. Organizations must enhance their security now so they can practice Jewish traditions and values without compromising their safety. Read more about how we're working to keep our communities safe.