Anti-Semitic fliers found in downtown Whitefish

Anti-Semitic fliers were dropped off at several local businesses in downtown Whitefish on Monday night, according to a press release from the Montana Human Rights Network.

The literature came as the Jewish community in Whitefish and around the globe honor the beginning of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. According to the press release, several times a year the Human Rights Network and its local affiliate, Love Lives Here, get reports “when a few individuals have tried to intimidate local communities by secretly posting fliers in the middle of the night that promote white nationalism.”

The fliers displayed phrases and personas that included references to Adolf Hitler and well-known white nationalist David Lane, according to the press release. Similar literature was dropped on cars in Helena over the weekend as well.

“The hate literature was not only offensive in relation to the Jewish holiday, but it is concerning as there as there is a recorded rise and mainstreaming of anti-Semitism in the United States, including the troll storm perpetrated from outside the community onto the Jewish people of Whitefish just two and a half years ago,” commented Rachel Carroll Rivas with the Montana Human Rights Network.

The organization is urging the community and law enforcement to pay attention to these types of incidents. While law enforcement collects data on violent activist situations, the Human Rights Network uses community-based research as well to help them understand those responsible for acts like the flier drops. People can report incidents of harassment and intimidation online at mhrn.org/reportingform.