Antisemitic Flyer Distributed In Fair Oaks; Fairfax Police Engage Religious Leaders

FAIR OAKS, VA — Fairfax County Police detectives are investigating numerous reports they received on Friday and Saturday of "suspicious flyers portraying bias material" being distributed in the Fair Oaks area.

Patch obtained a copy of the flyer but is not publishing it in order to avoid spreading the content to a wider audience. The flyer contains many antisemitic tropes.

Each year, the Anti-Defamation League publishes an audit of incidents of antisemitic harassment, vandalism and assault across the U.S. ADL reported in March that there were 3,697 antisemitic incidents throughout the U.S. in 2022. Not only was this a 36 percent increase over the 2,717 reported in 2021, but it was the third time in the past five years that the year-end total was the highest ever recorded.

FCPD is responding to the flyers by engaging religious leaders across the county in order to identify prompt actions to ensure the safety and security of the religious community.

"We are grateful for our strong ties within this community, which help us in gathering additional information and developing long-term solutions to address instances of hatred like this one," according to an FCPD release. "While there is currently no specific threat within our community, we are continuing to collect additional information about this incident."

Anyone who is a victim of or who witnesses a bias crime or incident is asked to contact FCPD at 911, if the incident is in progress, or the police non-emergency number at 703-691-2131 if it's not.

Police are also asking anyone with information about the flyer that was distributed in the Fair Oaks area or who has witnessed suspicious behavior to call the Fair Oaks Police station at 703-591-0966. You may also contact detectives in the Organized Crime and Intelligence Bureau at 703-802-2750.