Florida officials condemned multiple antisemitic messages that appeared recently in Jacksonville — at least one of which expressed support for recent antisemitic comments by Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, at least the second such public statement in a week that publicly backed his remarks.
Video posted on social media shows an antisemitic message flashing across an electronic screen that referred to support for Ye’s recent comments at TIAA Bank Field stadium in Jacksonville, where the universities of Georgia and Florida football teams squared off Saturday.
The same antisemitic message appears to have flashed across at least one other nearby building soon after it appeared at the stadium, another video shows.
The message was the same one an antisemitic hate group shared in a banner it hung over a Los Angeles freeway: “Kanye is right about the Jews.”
A number of people raised their arms in a Nazi salute as they stood behind that banner and another sign that read: “Honk if you know.” A third banner promoted a video platform that streams antisemitic content operated by the Goyim Defense League, a network of antisemitic conspiracy theorists.
StopAntisemitism.org, a nonprofit group dedicated to documenting antisemitic behavior, said the Goyim Defense League was responsible for hanging the banners above Interstate 405.
The Anti-Defamation League of Southern California tweeted that the group was “known for espousing vitriolic #antisemitism and white supremacist ideology.”
Ye’s antisemitic comments led various companies to suspend their working relationships with him last week, including Adidas, Gap, the luxury fashion house Balenciaga and the talent agency CAA. He was also locked out of his Twitter account and restricted from posting on Instagram this month after he posted antisemitic messages.
The Florida and Georgia football teams condemned the message at the football game in a joint statement Sunday, as well as others that recently appeared throughout the city, including banners displayed from an overpass on Interstate 10, a local reporter tweeted Friday.
“The University of Florida and the University of Georgia together denounce these and all acts of antisemitism and other forms of hatred and intolerance,” the joint statement read. “We are proud to be home to strong and thriving Jewish communities at UGA and UF, and we stand together against hate.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was at Saturday’s game, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry tweeted. As of Sunday afternoon, he had not made any public comments about the message that appeared at the game.
Spokespeople for DeSantis did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Curry tweeted Sunday: “Jacksonville is a city made better because of its diversity. Those who spread messages of hate, racism and antisemitism will not be able to change the heart of this city or her people. I condemn these cowards and their cowardly messages.”
Republican Rep. John Rutherford, who represents Jacksonville in the House, tweeted a statement early Sunday calling the message at the football game “despicable and extremely disappointing.”
Jacksonville City Council President Terrance Freeman and Democratic state Rep. Angie Nixon also denounced Saturday’s message on Twitter.
The American Jewish Committee condemned the incident and its potential impacts: “Antisemitism like this is horrifying and dangerous for Jews everywhere.”
TIAA Bank Field and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Chantal Da Silva and Diana Dasrath contributed.
Source: NBC News
