MINERAL WELLS—After 79-year-old Vietnam-era veteran Neil Reddick found an abundance of antisemitic flyers polluting his neighborhood near churches and schools – he started crying.

The Mineral Wells resident said he defended the United States and her freedoms for all Americans.

“It’s all kinds of stuff about pure white… but we’re all the same,” Reddick told the Palo Pinto Press with tears welling in his eyes. “If they’re spreading this, what else are they going to do in town?”

Reddick discovered numerous zip-lock bags containing white supremacist propaganda between the 1400 and 1600 blocks of 24th Avenue in Mineral Wells on Sept. 7 and 8. Some of the hateful messaging falsely depicts Jewish religious leaders sexually molesting babies, images of the Star of David with a slogan stating, “Every single aspect of the LGTBQ+ movement is Jewish,” and “Protect our white children.”

The racist material also features Nazi symbolism, a Bible scripture and declares, “Every single aspect of gun control is Jewish.”

A QR code in the literature pushes readers to the website of a group called Goyim Defense League, an antisemitic group identified by the Anti-Defamation League’s Center on Extremism.

Police Chief Tim Denison said the situation is under investigation, but it’s not a crime until somebody acts on the vile messaging.

“Unfortunately, there is not a lot that we can do with someone spreading hate speech as they are protected by their First Amendment,” Denison wrote in an email to the Press. “It is not illegal to hate someone or another group, it only becomes illegal/a hate crime when someone commits some kind of act regarding the speech.”

The Mineral Wells Police Department is asking citizens in the area with cameras to review them and look for potential suspects.

“You can always contact the police department and request extra patrols if you feel like you are a target for any crime,” Denison said.

Calling the literature “repulsive, narrow-minded and ignorant,” Sheriff Brett McGuire encourages residents to come forward about any suspicious person in their neighborhoods, especially if seen distributing materials from moving vehicles.

“We urge folks to be aware of their surroundings and who in is their surroundings,” McGuire said. “These types of folks are looking for people to notice them and are trying to make themselves relevant.”

Palo Pinto County Democratic Party Chair Carla Schoonover-Porter reported the flyers to the American Civil Liberties Union.

“By taking a stand against white supremacy, we promote equality and justice in our hometown,” Schoonover-Porter said. “I firmly believe that our citizens will not tolerate this hate, and together, we will stand united to ensure it is not tolerated here in Palo Pinto County.”

The ACLU’s Matt Levin said the best way to confront hate speech is with the truth and provide safety to those in distress.

“ACLU’s consistent stance is that the solution to hate speech is more speech,” Levin explained. “When members of a community feel unsafe, the best thing a community can do is create safe spaces and emphasize that folks are welcome and supported.”

Rabbi Andrew Bloom of Congregation Ahavath Sholom in Fort Worth said the same flyers made it to his area about eight months ago. He said it stems from the war between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups.

“I do not think people have the knowledge about what’s really going on there,” Bloom emphasized. “They hear slogans and repeat slogans they don’t understand. I think people are being manipulated and I think that’s all coming from overseas being played out in communities, but even more so on college campuses.”

The Anti-Defamation League (www.dallas.adl.org) and the Secure Community Network (www.securecommunitynetwork.org) offer resources to individuals and communities experiencing hate speech and racism.

Bloom encourages concerned citizens to organize community meetings at churches to bring about awareness and education. He noted the ADL and SCN may be able to assist with those efforts.

The ACLU’s website includes a Students Rights Hub with resources on how young people can advocate for themselves. Visit www.aclutx.org.

Editor’s note: The Palo Pinto Press chose not to reprint any of the flyers associated with this story due to their offensive, dangerous and obscene images.