bias crime | FFXnow

Published April 4, 2024 at 9:30AM | Updated April 5, 2024 at 1:23PM

English ivy seen at McLean Central Park (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

In the latest round of action on bills, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed 100 bills passed by the Virginia General Assembly, including one to protect Virginians from unlawful discrimination, hate crimes and antisemitism. The governor vetoed four others, including one to create civil penalties for shop owners who fail to advertise they are selling invasive plants that could harm other species.

Among the 100 bills signed is a measure that will codify a recommendation by the Commission to Combat Antisemitism that Virginia revise its laws to better protect Jewish citizens from hate crimes, along with Muslims, Sikhs and other ethnic-religious groups.

News

Police: Teen caught shoplifting at Target was behind antisemitic flyers in Fair Oaks

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 23, 2023 at 9:30AM

Police say a teen charged with shoplifting at the Fair Lakes Target recently distributed antisemitic flyers (via Google Maps)

A teenager detained for an alleged shoplifting attempt at Fair Lakes Shopping Center was responsible for a series of antisemitic flyers scattered around Fair Oaks last week, police say.

Officers determined that the teen distributed the flyers after they were apprehended at Target (13047 Fair Lakes Shopping Center) on Sunday (Aug. 20), according to the Fairfax County Police Department.

News

Dozens of white supremacist flyers found in McLean neighborhoods

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 17, 2023 at 9:30AM

A Fairfax County police car (file photo)

Fairfax County police found as many as 50 flyers advertising a white supremacist hate group around McLean yesterday morning (Thursday).

Officers from the McLean Police District responded to “numerous reports of suspicious flyers” in multiple residential neighborhoods in western McLean, the Fairfax County Police Department said.

News

Bomb and shooting threat sent over ‘drag brunch’ at Fair Lakes restaurant

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 13, 2022 at 9:30AM

Blue Iguana Restaurant and Bar in Fair Lakes (via Google Maps)

Fairfax County police are investigating a threat of violence against the Blue Iguana in Fair Lakes and a local drag performer partnered with the restaurant and bar.

The anonymous email sent Saturday morning (Dec. 10) said that “several bombs” had been placed inside the restaurant in the Shops at Fair Lakes (12727 Shoppes Lane) as well as the home of a drag queen who hosts a “Sassy Saturdays Drag Brunch” on the second Saturday of each month, starting Nov. 12.

Countywide

FCPD seeks grant to help protect local Jewish congregations from hate crimes

By Vernon Miles

Published December 12, 2022 at 11:45AM | Updated December 12, 2022 at 12:32PM

Fairfax County police car with lights flashing (file photo)

(Updated at 12:30 p.m.) Last week, Fairfax County’s Board of Supervisors authorized a grant that aims to help protect local Jewish organizations from hate crimes.

The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) is applying for a $150,000 grant (page 244) from the Department of Criminal Justice Services’ Combating Hate Crime Grant Program. The funding will be used to better secure local congregations against hate crimes.

Countywide

Fairfax County leaders condemn anti-Semitic flyers found in Wolf Trap area

By Angela Woolsey

Published February 22, 2022 at 2:15PM | Updated December 9, 2022 at 2:28PM

Fairfax County police cruiser with lights on (via FCPD/Facebook)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors expressed solidarity with the local Jewish community today (Tuesday) after dozens of anti-Semitic flyers were found in a Wolf Trap neighborhood over the weekend.

Reiterating a statement released on social media yesterday (Monday), Chairman Jeff McKay characterized the flyers as a backlash to the county’s embrace of religious diversity during the board’s meeting this morning.