KCBA - Monterey, Salinas, Santa Cruz - News Weather-Freedom of Speech gone to Far? Flying Nazi Flags
Member Center:
SANTA CRUZ, Calif- It has been the buzz along Santa Cruz's Pacific Avenue. An apartment resident has been hanging flags and symbols associated with Nazi-era Germany for everyone to see.
The downtown display has drawn plenty of response, even for a city known to embrace diverse opinions.
It's a symbol of the Nazis, It's a symbol of intolerance, it's a symbol of racial purity, and millions of jews and non-jews killed during the holocaust," said Rabbi Paula Marcus.
The Nazi symbols have drawn eyes on the ground and attention on the internet. It's a display that has led to questions of free speech versus hate speech.
Rabbi Marcus of temple Beth El in Aptos says it's become an issue of security, "The image of swastikas instills fear," shae says.
Later in the day the nazi symbols were replaced by other flags.
Jessie Autumn was among the people enjoying a serene fall day on the street just below. She's not sure if the display crosses the line, even for place as progressive as Santa Cruz. "I'm resistant to it, but at the same time I want to have the right to put whatever I want in my window."
Rabbi Marcus says local groups are in dicussion to craft a response to the display and could possibly ask the building's manager to take action.
For Autumn the response is much simpler, "I think he's just being a jerk."
