Nazi flags, flyers found in Portland, Tigard areas

By Jewish Review

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A Nazi flag attached to a balloon flying next to the Freemont Bridge March 7 distracted motorists, prompting Portland Police to remove the flag.

Though “most folks would consider it offensive,” Portland Police Information Officer Sgt. Brian Schmautz said First Amendment issues limit the possible charges in connection with the flag to littering or disorderly conduct since it caused a distraction to drivers by causing alarm. If an accident had resulted, he said that a charge of reckless endangerment could have been lodged, but no accident occurred.

The flag and a balloon were attached to a long twine tied to a rock that was dropped into the river either from a boat or from the bridge, said Schmautz.

The incident may be related to a series of flags found in the Tigard area late last month.

A Tigard police spokesman said no more incidents of Nazi flags or literature have been reported in that area since red flags with swastikas were spotted flying on utility poles along Oregon 217, Hall Boulevard and Oregon 99W late last month.

The same week, anti-Semitism flyers purportedly from the National Socialist Workers were scattered in neighborhoods in the area, said Tigard police spokesman Jim Wolf. He said the flyers appeared to have been tossed from a slow-moving vehicle and were not placed on individual porches.

In mid-February a southwest Jewish congregation received a similar flyer in the mail.

Wolf said the police became involved because the flags were along state highways and attached to public utility poles.