Marin Group Condemns Antisemitic Incidents

NOVATO, CA — A local group that's working to push back against racism and bullying has issued a statement condemning a recent series of antisemitic hate incidents several Bay Area communities including Marin.

Flyers containing hateful messaging were left on the driveways of about 60 homes in Tiburon. Similar incidents were reported other Marin communities including unincorporated Novato.

The flyers included a list the names of prominent national health care officials and included messaging that implied a nexus between the Jewish faith and the pandemic.

The flyers were mostly contained in plastic bags with rice and thrown on driveways from a moving vehicle.

“The messaging appears to be designed to instill fear within communities on a national and local level,” Not In Our Town’s statement said.

Similar incidents have also been reported in Berkeley and other California cities including Palo Alto, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Pasadena and Huntington Beach.

Not In Our Town’s statement included a call to action to “unleash the creative force of our community.”

NIOT is urging residents to speak out, hold conversations about antisemitism with friends and family, report incidents to authorities and respond when bullying or harassment is observed.

“In the past couple weeks, hate filled flyers were distributed in the unincorporated Wildhorse Valley neighborhood of western Novato, Tiburon, and other locations throughout the Bay Area and California,” NIOT said in a statement.

“NIOT Novato stands firmly against all racism and hate speech and is seeking ways to work with everyone to make all members of the community feel safe, respected, and included. We have a duty to speak out against all forms of discrimination and hate, condemn antisemitism and stands with people of Jewish faith.

“These were the founding principles when Novato civic and community leaders came together to form NIOT Novato in 2018. And building safe and inclusive communities starts with all of us.”