Anti-Semitic leaflets in Berkeley driveways investigated as hate incident

(KRON) — Berkeley police are investigating a possible hate incident related to fliers left in driveways in North Berkeley. The Berkeley Unified School District said the fliers are anti-Semitic.

On August 23, police received complaints about the flyers. According to BPD, about 13 North Berkeley residents came forward to report the flyers.

San Jose State University student dies in his dorm room

“It appears the person who distributed the flyers drove through the neighborhoods and randomly threw the bags containing the flyers from their vehicle onto the various driveways. The flyers contained hate speech,” BPD said.

The flyers contained a barcode that led to a website with anti-Semitic content, according to the police. The BPD does not know who sent the flyers.

BUSD also released a statement about the leaflets, saying it was “troubled that this incident has resurfaced in our community.” In May, a federal investigation was launched into bullying of Jewish students at Berkeley schools following the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.

According to a Title VI lawsuit, some Jewish students have left BUSD because of the harassment. The lawsuit also alleges that Jewish students have heard anti-Semitic slurs from their teachers.

BUSD classified the leaflets as a “hate incident,” which it defines as motivated by hatred or prejudice but protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

The latest news, weather and sports information as well as streaming videos can be found on KRON4.