Anne Geggis
Republican Rep. Randy Fine reported on Twitter that his son found birthday greetings for Adolf Hitler on his Brevard County driveway in a manner that mirrored similar antisemitic droppings in South Florida neighborhoods that are heavily Jewish.
Fine, who regularly references growing up Jewish on the House floor and in committee, posted a photo of the flyer showing Hitler, his date of birth — April 20, 1889 — and a clip art birthday cake. He said it was in a plastic bag weighted down with rocks Saturday morning.
“My 11-year-old son found this …” Fine tweeted about the flyer that also said in all caps under Hitler’s picture, “Died fighting the eternal enemy, the Jews.”
Fine’s tweet referenced legislation (HB 269) that would make dropping these messages a third-degree felony.
“Hope these animals had a good time,” Fine tweeted. “Soon enough this will get them sent to prison for five years. #NazisGoingToJail.”
My 11 year-old son found this on our driveway in a bag with rocks this morning. (I’ve edited out the group that sent to not give them pub). Hope these animals had a good time. Soon enough, this will get them sent to prison for five years. #NazisGoingToJail pic.twitter.com/eqYLsmPjsY
— Rep. Randy Fine (@VoteRandyFine) April 22, 2023
Fine did not immediately return a Florida Politics call seeking more information.
The bill, “Public Nuisances,” won every vote in the House Thursday, ironically enough, Hitler’s birthday. Similar Senate legislation that Republican Alexis Calatayud introduced, has been substituted for the House version and currently awaits another hearing.
The bill would upgrade dropping materials with “religious or ethnic animus” from a littering citation to an act punishable with prison time.
Some have worried, however, that it violates the First Amendment right to free expression.
The dropping at FIne’s home in unincorporated Brevard County comes the same week that Fine was featured in a Washington Post story about the Volusia County Sheriff’s work to stop antisemitism.
“If they want to walk down the street, waving a sign, saying Randy Fine should be in the ovens, that is their right,” Fine is quoted in the article as saying. “But they can’t throw that sign in my front yard. And they can’t project that on my house.”
Fine also had a high-profile role as the House passed his bill that makes it a crime for venues to admit children to a “live performance” with prosthetic breasts and genitalia.
“There is evil in this world and we face it here today,” Fine said, as he closed on his controversial bill.
9 comments
JD
April 23, 2023 at 1:39 pm
As much as people don’t like Representative Fine’s backlash on transgenderism, antisemitic vilification is just as bad.
JD
April 23, 2023 at 1:42 pm
That autocorrected wrong. Semitic vilification is just as bad.
Michael K
April 23, 2023 at 2:19 pm
Perhaps Mr. Fine might consider how LGBTQ folks feel about the hate and lies he spreads that causes real damage to real people.
Nah. That would require some reflection his part – he’s ‘self-made’ after all, and therefore accountable to no-one.
tom palmer
April 23, 2023 at 4:48 pm
Fine is a putz, but that mailing was inappropiate
Ocean Joe
April 23, 2023 at 6:15 pm
Trump said of Charlottesville, where marchers chanted: “Jews will not replace us,” that “there are many fine people on both sides.” During the debate, rather than denounce them, he said of Proud Boys: Stand back and stand by. Some of these ‘fine ‘ people tried to ransack the Capitol on Jan. 6. A rash of antisemitic incidents around Florida, and our governor, who constantly has something to say is silent.
Mr. Fine, this is what the right wing extremism brings.
Dont Say FLA
April 23, 2023 at 6:46 pm
Rep Fine is a Florida GOP Republican. He should have received a whole box of the flyers for him to hand out to his constituents. Somebody tell Rhonda’s Panties whoever left Rep Fine just one flyer that staffer needs to be fired.
Tjb
April 24, 2023 at 1:32 pm
I was my understanding that Rep. Fine ordered a box of this hate material and one dropped from the box onto the driveway. The man supports hate to all unless you are a straight white and a Christian.
just sayin
April 24, 2023 at 3:19 pm
He’s Jewish and very outspoken about it, you bellend.
Edward Freeman
April 26, 2023 at 3:06 pm
There are so many far better ways to criticize Rep Randy Fine than for being Jewish. Corrupt, fascist, and @sshole quickly come to mind.
Comments are closed.