Elliott Wenzler
ewenzler@coloradocommunitymedia.com

The Parker Town Council responded to reports of anti-Semitic flyers being distributed throughout the community during a Feb. 22 town council meeting, calling the situation abhorrent.

Two rabbis from Chabad Jewish Center of South Metro Denver had been scheduled to attend the meeting for about a month to receive an award from the town, said Mayor Jeff Toborg. 

“We absolutely can’t believe this happened in Parker,” Toborg said as part of a statement from the town council. “We are disgusted by it but … out of this we do look forward to working with you for educational opportunities, for cultural opportunities and really to share the information about your congregation and what it’s all about.”

The Parker Police Department began hearing reports of anti-Semitic flyers being left at people’s homes Sunday morning, according to spokesperson Josh Hans. They heard about 10 reports.

Hans said the agency determined the flyers do not rise to the level of a hate crime.

“We certainly understand that these flyers are upsetting to our citizens and not something we want to see in our town, however, based on a review of the Bias Motivated Crime Statute, the flyers and the manner in which they were distributed does not appear to meet the elements necessary for a hate crime,” he said in an emailed statement.

During the town council hearing, Rabbi Avraham Mintz said when he’s been in Parker he’s only experienced “love, respect, compassion from people of all walks of life.”

“The way we get rid of darkness is not by engaging with it but by responding with light,” he said “Something dark happened, I don’t think it represents Parker in any way.”

Mintz and Rabbi Meir Simon accepted an award from the community “for their outstanding contributions to the residents of Parker.” Council member Laura Hefta nominated them for the award.

“The Chabad Jewish Center is a center that welcomes all people and provides so many opportunities for education and growth in not only Parker but in the South Metro Denver Area,” Hefta said.

In his statement from the town council, Toborg said Parker is “not a place of division.”

“Parker is that hometown where people come together and help each other out,” he said. “Not tear each other apart.”