Hate fliers appear at city homes

SANDUSKY — Several Sandusky residents recently received anonymous hate speech on their doorsteps. An unknown individual or individuals left bags containing rice and fliers with racist, homophobic and anti-Semitic language on porches of homes in at least two different Sandusky neighborhoods. The hate fliers were reported on East Washington and Curran streets. Images of several different fliers were shared with the Register. Most of the fliers self-attributed themselves to an organization defined by the Anti-Defamation League as an anti-Semitic hate group that operates in multiple U.S. states. The Register is not republishing images of the fliers or identifying the group purportedly behind the fliers. One flier targets Black individuals and includes racist terms and derides interracial marriage. Others make false and hateful comments and claims about the LGBTQ+ community and Jewish people. Some of the fliers quote Bible passages. One flier was found at a home in the 600 block of Washington St., where a home's resident located a racist document in a bag with rice on her porch. Police believe the rice was there to hold the bag down to ensure the flier inside would be found, according to Sandusky police Chief Jared Oliver. "I was horrified and disgusted," that resident, Athena Schenk, said. "I cannot believe people have so much hate in them." It's not clear exactly how many homes received the fliers. Police response Local law enforcement condemned the individual or group who left the fliers and said criminal charges could be possible. "There is no place in our community for those types of beliefs," Oliver said. "Hate is not welcome here." Police are attempting to find video footage from cameras near the homes that received fliers. Oliver said those responsible for leaving the fliers could be charged with misdemeanor menacing or a similar charge. He said that whoever was responsible acted cowardly in leaving the fliers anonymously. On Monday morning, officers were called to a Curran Street home. The resident there received a flier on two separate occasions. Were people targeted? At least one flier states it was "distributed randomly without malicious intent." Law enforcement said they do not have evidence suggesting specific individuals were targeted. But several people who received fliers believe there was intent behind the messages they received. Two people who received the flier about interracial relationships have mixed-race children, according to one person who received one. The person who received the anti-LGBTQ+ message is a member of that community. "We personally feel targeted by whoever this group is, simply because we have a Pride flag on our front porch," one of the recipients said. The Register is not naming the individual at their request. "After the second time, we found this 'hate literature' on our front walk, I noticed that most of our neighbors had similar fliers in front of their homes. This is not okay." Oliver asked members of the public to report any information they have on who distributed the fliers. People can call in tips, which can remain anonymous, by dialing 419-627-5877.