ANTI-SEMITIC flyers have been distributed in a Huntington Beach neighborhood (Shutter stock).

Huntington Beach Mayor Barbara Delgleize issued a statement Tuesday in response to complaints that a neighborhood in the city was the target of anti-Semitic “messaging and propaganda” this morning.

“I have been assured by our chief of police that the … police department is actively investigating this situation and the source of the flyers.” While the HBPD believe the distribution of the flyers was “isolated to a very small area,” police are “taking it very seriously and following every lead.”

Delgleize wrote, “We have zero tolerance for hateful rhetoric or prejudice within our community.”

The city’s Human Relations Committee will be asked to work with the HBPD and county officials to look into the incident.

While expressions of bigotry are protected by the First Amendment to the U.S Constitution, they may be prosecuted under California law as a “hate crime” if intended to terrorize a person or group based on nationality, race or ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion or disability, or as an aggravating factor for punishment connected with a crime.

As of this writing, the contents of the flyers or the location of their distribution have not been made public.

Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the HBPD at (714) 960-8811.