Deerfield Beach, FL – Claims Of Anti-Semitism at 55+ Residence Estate

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    Deerfield Beach, FL – Police are investigating a hate crime in a South Florida trailer park, and a resident believes it stems from an undercurrent of anti-Semitism at the residence.

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    Albert Serra, a resident of Tidewater Estates, woke up Tuesday morning and found the words, “Get out Jew or die,” spray-painted on the exterior of his trailer home.

    “When I saw that, my reaction was immediately to get out of here, I couldn’t be here. I panicked and I left those four police cars here doing things, and I just panicked. I was frightened, like at the skirt of the trailer, they would throw a firebomb or something like that. I just panicked,” said Serra.

    Serra’s neighbor was appalled by the words scrawled on Serra’s home and wondered what was becoming of society. “Oh my god, what the hell is this place coming to,” said Jean Kennedy.

    Serra does not believe this was an act committed by juvenile delinquents. Every resident at Tidewater Estates is over the age of 55 and Serra believes the incident is all apart of a plot to force him to leave.

    “When I first moved here, I was on the board of directors, and my last name is Italian, and they thought I was Italian. They kept making anti-Semitic remarks, for example, ‘No blacks and no Jews… Hitler did not do his job correctly, he should’ve really burned them all,’ at that point I said, ‘Whoa, I happen to be Jewish and I resent that behavior.’ At that point everything was down hill,” said Serra.

    Another Jewish resident, who concurs with Serra’s assessment of an anti-Semitic feeling in the park, is also looking to move out. “It’s symptomatic of a problem that exists on the property, and has existed on the property for quite some time. It’s information that, let’s say, a lot of the people of this community know about, but are afraid to talk about it,” said David Hubbard.

    Association President Ray Blanchette was not aware of the hate crime when it was reported and disagrees with the anti-Semitic views at the trailer park. “I think it’s a disgrace, absolute disgrace, I don’t know anyone who would do this. I was in World War II, as one of the liberators at Dachau concentration camp, there’s no way in the world that I would be anti-Semitic,” said Blanchette.

    Board Member Patrick McCarthy said that he doesn’t know who committed the crime and when asked about the allegations of anti-Semitism in the park, he replied, “No, absolutely not.”

    While the Broward Sheriff’s Office questioned everyone at the park, neighbor Mark Thomsen was tearful over the whole incident. “It would never, ever come to mind to do something like that,” said Thomsen.

    BSO is investigating this incident as a hate crime. A conviction for a crime like this would result in up to a year in county jail.


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    5 Comments
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    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I would get out (if at all possible/feasible)for my own safety/ peace of mind, and carry a concealled weapon (get permit) until then. Also cameras should be installed. Except for Very,Very Upscale “trailer parks”….this is typical behavior among so called Trailer Trash.

    Pinky
    Pinky
    15 years ago

    Here in South Florida, it is everywhere. I live in Miami and I go to the bank and see swastikas. I ask the management to remove them and they say “they will just put them back”.

    I go to the clothing store and see swastikas.

    We have had two synagogues in my neighborhood burned down. A Rabbi was attacked walking to shul, Shabbos morning.

    I keep my children home and they play in the back.

    Jews are being harassed everywhere in South Fl.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I live in Lake Worth FL and agree with Mr. Pinky,there is an underlying anti-semitism everywhere you go here, usually subtle, here anyway -More of the coldness and rudeness rather than swastika and beat down violence- but it has a strong presence nevertheless. I am often going to Palm Beach Island (for Shabbos)and have been told “it wasn’t to many years ago when your kind (Jew) wasn’t even allowed on the island”

    Murphy
    Murphy
    15 years ago

    I lived in NMB for 11 years and never saw any anti-semitism or swastikas.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Murphy,

    Never??

    I also live in NMB. Need I remind you of the swastikas painted on Sharei Tefila,Young Israel, and outside of Kosher World just about a year ago?