Update: November 5, 2010: Nassau County police arrested the same man and charged him with a hate crime in connection with similar fliers distributed on Long Island. More >>

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New York, NY, July 19, 2010 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today praised the New York Police Department's Hate Crimes Task Force for the arrest of a man in connection with dozens of "kill Jews" fliers left across New York City.

New York City Police charged Dimitrious Apolonides, 37, a livery driver in Brooklyn, with aggravated harassment as a hate crime for distributing the fliers on at least two dozen occasions since April 2009.

Jeffrey M. Parker, ADL New York Regional Chair, and Ron Meier, ADL New York Regional Director issued the following statement:

The arrest in the "Kill Jews" fliers case was long in coming. We extend our appreciation to the New York Police Hate Crimes Task Force for taking the investigation seriously and pursuing all of the leads that led them to arrest a Brooklyn livery driver in connection with the case.

 

While the motive for this anti-Semitic leafleting spree remains unclear, there can be no doubt that this was a crime motivated by hate, and that the intent here was to spread fear through the New York City metropolitan area.  Similar messages appeared in communities in Westchester, New Jersey and Connecticut.

 

We urge the District Attorney's Office to consider the wider impact of these fliers and the climate of fear and intimidation they instilled as the prosecution pursues possible hate crimes charges against Mr. Apolonides.