Antisemitic messages seen at Florida-Georgia game and other locations in Jacksonville

CNN
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Officials in the Jacksonville, Florida area condemned several anti-Semitic messages that appeared in public spaces over the weekend, including a football stadium, an overpass and a downtown building.

An anti-Semitic message referencing rapper Kanye West was seen paraded outside TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville during the Georgia-Florida college football game on Saturday, according to video shot by a relative of Vic Micolucci, a reporter for the affiliate. from CNN WJXT.

In the videothe words « Kanye is right about the Jews » parade outside the stadium structure, referring to recent anti-Semitic comments by rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West.

CNN has reached out to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and TIIA Bank Field for comment.

It is unclear how the message was projected onto the stadium wall. It is also unclear how long the message was visible outside the stadium.

In other videos circulating on social media, the same message was also seen on at least one Jacksonville building Saturday night.

And on Friday, banners were also visible from an overpass on Interstate 10 in Jacksonville, according to a tweet from a local reporter. They were also referenced in a statement by Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried.

The banners read « End Jewish Supremacy in America » ​​and « Sound your horn if you know it’s the Jews. »

The language in the scrolling messages in Jacksonville mirrors the banners that were hung from a freeway overpass in Los Angeles last weekend by a group appearing to give Nazi salutes.

Several officials condemned the posts in statements Sunday morning.

« The first step is to make sure we don’t normalize this behavior, » Fried said. « Don’t normalize anti-Semitic messages over a highway, or anywhere else. »

U.S. Representative John Rutherford, whose district includes Jacksonville, said in a statement on Twitter“There is absolutely no place for this kind of hate in Florida. I continue to support the Jewish community in Jacksonville and across the country.”

In a tweet Sunday morning, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry says the city is made better because of its diversity.

“Those who spread messages of hate, racism and anti-Semitism will not be able to change the heart of this city or its people,” Curry wrote in the tweet. « I condemn these cowards and their cowardly messages. »

George University and the University of Florida jointly released a statement condemning the posts.

“We strongly condemn the anti-Semitic hate speech projected outside TIA Bank Field in Jacksonville following the Florida-Georgia football game on Saturday night and the other anti-Semitic messages that appeared in Jacksonville.

“The University of Florida and the University of Georgia together denounce these acts and all acts of anti-Semitism and other forms of hatred and intolerance. We are proud to be home to strong and thriving Jewish communities at UGA and UF, and we stand united against hate,” the statement read.