Montgomery County Council condemned a bias incident in Silver Spring on Saturday in which flyers were distributed containing antisemitic language and disinformation about COVID-19 in the Forest Estates neighborhood.
U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin also spoke out against the incident, calling it “appalling.” He tweeted, “Some hateful bigot is mixing the oldest anti-Jewish conspiracy theories with sick new lies about COVID-19. We reject this filth.”
According to Montgomery County Police, they received a call when someone on Brisbane Street saw a driver throwing the flyers out of a car window.
“The increase in antisemitic activities spreading COVID-19 disinformation that were seen in our region this weekend, mirroring similar activities seen across the nation has left many members in our community feeling unsafe for themselves and their loved ones,” the council members wrote in a joint statement.
“The Council stands in solidarity with our Jewish community and condemns all acts of hate and ethnic or religious bigotry aimed at Jewish residents. Furthermore, the Council condemns the spread of COVID-19 disinformation in all its forms, and the use of erroneous connections to ethnic, religious and other groups to fuel abhorrently racist agendas.”
Councilmembers called on residents to “unite and come together in the face of adversity” and “pledge[d] to continue working with community leaders, residents and members of our public safety community to ensure that Montgomery County remains an inclusive and welcoming place to worship, work and raise a family.”
Councilmember Tom Hucker also tweeted. “We can never tolerate or be silent in the face of antisemitism – including the recent actions spreading COVID disinformation and targeting our local Jewish community.”
Thx to @MoCoCouncilMD for swiftly condemning the appalling antisemitic fliers littering Silver Spring on Monday. Some hateful bigot is mixing the oldest anti-Jewish conspiracy theories with sick new lies about COVID-19. We reject this filth. https://t.co/gdZtxjC1AS
— Rep. Jamie Raskin (@RepRaskin) December 22, 2021
The JCRC thanks the @MontgomeryCoMD for its strong statement condemning recent #antisemitic activities targeting our local Jewish community. We appreciate their leadership in the face of such pernicious hatred. https://t.co/3aGa7s8rJ6
— JCRC of Greater DC (@JCRCgw) December 21, 2021
We can never tolerate or be silent in the face of antisemitism – including the recent actions spreading COVID disinformation and targeting our local Jewish community.
The statement from the @MoCoCouncilMD : https://t.co/74Zaa6EWq7
— Tom Hucker (he/him) (@tomhucker) December 22, 2021
