Loudoun County grapples with racism and anti-Semitism

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Racism and Anti-Semitism in Loudoun County

During the same week the country observed Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, approximately 50 white supremacist flyers were dropped on driveways in Loudoun County. Racist and anti-Semitic graffiti was also found in the bathrooms of Heritage High School and Loudoun County High School in Leesburg. FOX 5’s Josh Rosenthal is in Leesburg with details and what some want to see done.

LEESBURG, Va. — During the same week the country celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, about 50 white supremacist flyers were dropped on driveways in Loudoun County.

Racist and anti-Semitic graffiti was also found in the bathrooms of Heritage High School and Loudoun County High School in Leesburg.

“We need to move beyond a discussion of ‘I can’t believe this is happening’ to ‘how can we stop this from happening in a real way? “Said Pastor Michelle C. Thomas, president of the Loudoun NAACP branch.

READ MORE: Racist writings found in Heritage High School bathroom

Now Thomas is calling for action, saying she would like to see new legislation targeting these types of acts. And she also wants more community education.

“Every time you talk to the police, they say it’s free speech,” she added. “Somebody pays for this, and let’s be clear, black people pay for this type of hate, Jews pay for this type of hate, Latin Americans – we pay for this type of hate, LGBTQ people. This doesn’t It’s not free speech, it’s not free. Those it’s meant to intimidate, those it’s meant to harm, it hits. It lands.

RELATED: White supremacist propaganda flyers found in Loudoun County driveways

Similar incidents have taken place in Loudoun County — and elsewhere — before. This includes anti-Semitic graffiti found at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda in December and on the nearby Bethesda Trolley Trail just a month before that in November.

“So unfortunate,” Bishop Shawn Stephens said of the most recent flyers found in Loudoun County. He had distributed similar ones in his neighborhood of Leesburg – also the same week as MLK Day – several years before.

White supremacist flyers found in Loudoun County

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office is investigating reports of white supremacist flyers being distributed in the driveways of several Waterford homes. Authorities said about 50 flyers were found.

“It’s so sad that we’re still dealing with this divisive behavior,” Stephens told FOX 5. “It’s 2023, and there’s no room for this not only in Loudoun but even in our world.”

If you know anything about the flyers or graffiti this week, the authorities want to hear from you. The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office reviews the flyers, while the Leesburg Police Department investigates the graffiti.

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