The Santa Clara Police Department (SCPD) and Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety (DPS) are among the local law enforcement agencies “standing united against hate.”
SCPD Chief Pat Nikolai and Sunnyvale DPS Chief Phan Ngo are two of more than a dozen local leaders who signed a letter written by the President of the Santa Clara Police Chiefs’ Association Gary Berg. The letter calls out recent antisemitic flyers posted in several South Bay communities.
“Over the last week, several jurisdictions in our county had antisemitic flyers distributed in their communities. These flyers, amongst other things, placed blame on the Jewish community for the COVID-19 pandemic,” wrote Berg. “While these hate incidents are currently being investigated and may not ultimately be criminal in nature, the Santa Clara County Police Chiefs’ Association wants to make it clear we stand united with the Jewish communities throughout Santa Clara County in the face of abhorrent antisemitism.
“As law enforcement leaders in Santa Clara County, we are committed to protecting our communities. While the role of each of our departments is to uphold the law, including free speech, we do not support hate speech and have zero tolerance for hateful rhetoric or prejudice within our communities. We are acutely aware of what happens when hate is allowed to thrive unfettered and unchallenged and are committed to keeping our communities safe,” Berg continued. “In the fight against antisemitism, we all have to stand up and combat hatred. No one should feel vulnerable or at-risk simply due to their religious affiliation. Hate speech, as well as the hatred and bigotry that drives other antisemitic acts, is an attack that is inexcusable in any context.”
The heads of the California Highway Patrol, Palo Alto Police Department, Campbell Police Department, San Jose Police Department, Gilroy Police Department, San Jose State University Police Department, Los Altos Police Department, Los-Gatos Monte Sereno Police Department, Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, Milpitas Police Department, Morgan Hill Police Department and Mountain View Police Department also signed the letter.
