VSO News Conference: Rallying Against Hate 2/27/23

*WARNING* This video contains footage of antisemitic white supremacist hate speech that should be offensive to all viewers VOLUSIA, CENTRAL FLORIDA UNITED AGAINST HATE Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood was joined by fellow law enforcement officials, legislators, and leaders of a broad coalition of civic and faith organizations Monday in a joint news conference condemning recent hate speech and harassment targeting Jewish people in Volusia County and Central Florida. “We have unity in this county, we stand beside one another in this county, and we stand beside our Jewish neighbors,” Sheriff Chitwood said at the beginning of a nearly hourlong news conference attended by leaders from across the county and state. “We are not going to tolerate this.” Sheriff Chitwood called the meeting following a series of incidents involving the white supremacist neo-Nazi hate group Goyim Defense League (“GDL”), which recently dropped explicit hate propaganda in area neighborhoods and parking lots, draped banners across International Speedway Boulevard, and projected messages onto Daytona International Speedway. The group also recently used megaphones to shout hate speech and terrorize people outside the Chabad of South Orlando. In addition to condemning the spike in hateful conduct, the sheriff joined state Reps. Randy Fine, Tom Leek, Chase Tramont and state Sen. Tom Wright in calling for the passage of Florida HB 269, a proposal that would make much of the recent activity (such as littering yards and driveways with hate propaganda, or projecting it onto a building or stadium) a hate crime and a third-degree felony. Among other provisions, the bill also defines “willfully following, harassing, or interfering with” another person based on their religion or ethnic heritage as aggravated stalking, also a third-degree felony and a hate crime. Rep. Fine, who is Jewish, and a sponsor of the bill, said Monday that he believes the bill is guaranteed to pass the Florida Legislature: “There is no First Amendment right to litter, there is no First Amendment right to graffiti, there is no First Amendment right to assault, there is no First Amendment right to block someone’s access to the place where they pray. In Florida, if you do that, you’re going to go to jail, and you’re going to go to jail for a very long time.” Absent from the event were members and supporters of the Goyim Defense League, some of whom have been busy making death threats on the Internet, including recent threats to “put a bullet in” Sheriff Chitwood’s head, hack his computer, “dox” him online, and so on. “I wear that as a badge of honor,” the sheriff said. “Go for it. That’s my message to you. Go for it.” He added: “You came to the wrong county. I stand with my Jewish friends, and I’m honored to be on your hit list. It’s an honor to be sought after by a bunch of punk thugs like you. That’s my personal message.” One by one, several faith leaders representing congregations of Jewish, Christian, Islamic and Sikh backgrounds spoke out and expressed a message of unity against hate. The Volusia Sheriff’s Office and all local law enforcement agencies will continue to provide resources to ensure people of all religious and ethnic backgrounds are able to congregate peacefully, free from violent threats from bigots.