MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Members of Jewish Voice for Peace South Florida say they were peacefully protesting outside Miami Beach City Hall last December when they suddenly spotted three mobile billboards driving by with the group’s name and the words “Jew hater” displayed on them.
The organization alleges David Suarez paid for the billboards, spending about $4,000 on the mobile ads.
“We love being Jewish and are proud of the Jewish values that guide us to love,” said Hayley Margolis of Jewish Voice for Peace South Florida.
Members of the organization gathered there, claiming Suarez targeted two Jewish constituents by displaying their photos and first names on the billboards alongside the phrase “Jew hater.”
“I am one of the people whose face and name was on the billboard Commissioner Suarez created and paid for,” said Donna Nevel of Jewish Voice for Peace South Florida.
“The commissioner has targeted me and called me a Jew hater because I differ with his views on Israel,” Nevel added.
Alan Levine, another member of the organization, said seeing his face on one of the billboards was shocking.
“My first reaction was horror,” Levine said.
“As city commissioner to call two of his constituents Jew haters -- that may or may not be protected by free speech -- but it is grossly unethical and inappropriate for a public official,” he added.
Levine is also one of the attorneys suing the city, Mayor Steven Meiner and Suarez, alleging they infringed on the organization’s First Amendment right to protest.
“I have spoken many times at the city commission and been called a Hamas lover by Mayor Meiner and an anti-Semite by him and by David Suarez,” Levine said.
The organization filed a motion Wednesday tied to its existing lawsuit seeking additional documents related to the mobile billboards. Attorneys say they obtained an invoice from the billboard company that includes Suarez’s name and what they describe as his personal email address.
“We did get the information from the billboard company, we are engaging in discovery as part of this lawsuit,” said Katherine Giannamore, an attorney representing Jewish Voice for Peace South Florida.
It remains unclear what funding source was used to pay for the billboards.
Giannamore said they have not yet heard directly from Suarez regarding the allegations.
Local 10 News reached out to the mayor’s office but had not received a response.
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