Antisemitic flyers and graffiti removed from Isla Vista and local high school
ISLA VISTA, Calif.-UC Santa Barbara students found plastic bags strewn on the streets of Isla Vista Tuesday.
The small clear plastic lunch bags are like those found in front of homes on the Santa Barbara Mesa in December.
They all contained hostile and prejudice material targeted toward Jewish people.
"We woke up in the morning and we saw a bag in front of my home, we hopped on our bikes with plastic bags and we drove down all of Isla Vista, said Associated Students Senator Tessa Veksler, "My roommate and I collected about 50 and then students were all coming, our house was the base for the Jewish community and we collected over the 200."
Similar reports have been made in communities nationwide.
Rabbi Evan Goodman said students and university leaders talked about the discovery at the Santa Barbara Hillel the same night .
Students said that they also found antisemitic comments and symbols on a chalkboard in a class about politics.
"The day before, there were other antisemitic incidents on campus where Jewish students and Jewish classes were targeted on campus," said Rabbi Goodman, " And this is part of a pattern. Sometimes it is from the right and sometimes it's from the left, both are odious."
University students were not alone.
Antisemitic graffiti was found this week on a pole in the stadium at Dos Pueblos High was cleaned up immediately.
It is unclear if the hate is in reaction to events in Israel or a famous rapper's recent remarks.
What is clear is that student leaders and Jewish community members don't want to give the people or person behind the antisemitism a platform.
"These past 48 hours, I've seen some incredible community gathering and just seeing the Jewish leaders all come together, to work, to find a solution and to be proactive and build up our communities is amazing. I shine a light on that," said Veksler.
That is why they are not being specific about the unpleasant, repulsive words and symbols left in places where students were sure to see or find them.
Students will get another chance to come together and share their thoughts at the Shabbat dinner this Friday Night at the Santa Barbara Hillel also known as The Jewish Student Center.
For more information visit www.sbhillel.org
Santa Barbara Unified sent a message to parents and issued a statement that said in part, " Santa Barbara Unified condemns this hateful act in the strongest possible terms."
Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown also issued a statement that said in part "The men and women of the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office denounce hatred, violence and racism of any kind."
The Sheriff's Office and the school district are trying to find the people responsible for the incidents.
