Anti-Jewish, LGBTQ flyers shock residents in Chelsea, Dexter, and Pinckney
CHELSEA, Mich. (FOX 2) - Anti-Jewish and LGBTQ+ flyers were wrapped in bags and tossed onto the lawns of several southeast Michigan neighborhoods on Tuesday, leaving residents startled.
Up to 10 flyers were tossed from passing cars in Chelsea several days ago, police say; Dexter and Pinckney were also targeted with the hate-filled messages, blaming various social issues on members of the Jewish and LGBTQ + community – such as abortion, COVID-19 and hedge funds.
There has been a rise of antisemitic incidents in metro Detroit, tracked by local groups like Stand Against Extremism Livingston County – especially since the start of the Israel-Hamas war earlier this month.
Anti-Semitic graffiti spray-painted on Royal Oak synagogue and baby stroller outside Oak Park home
The graffiti included both symbols as well as a word painted on the synagogue's wall.
"We must send a message that hate has no home in our community," said Julie Ohashi, the president of Livingston Integrity. "Three out of five towns in Livingston County and at least 5 towns in our surrounding community have been targeted with this increased hate propaganda within the last six months, and it’s got to stop. So we are encouraging people to be on the lookout and report the fliers and the leaflets and the brochures to their local police – the FBI as well."
The flyers are currently being investigated by law enforcement.