Video allegedly used fear to spread misinformation, influence voting in ultra-Orthodox community

Many in Rockland are calling for action after they say a political propaganda video circulated before Tuesday's election, using fear to spread misinformation and influence voting in the county's ultra-Orthodox community.

News 12 Staff

Nov 7, 2019, 10:13 PM

Updated 1,723 days ago

Share:

Many in Rockland are calling for action after they say a political propaganda video circulated before Tuesday's election, using fear to spread misinformation and influence voting in the county's ultra-Orthodox community. 
 The video in Yiddish allegedly tells ultra-Orthodox viewers in Rockland County to vote row A, or Democratic, or they could face consequences like getting arrested by the FBI. 

The video includes Mike Diederich, an independent, who lost the district attorney race to Tom Walsh.
Walsh had the Democratic and Republican parties endorsement, and also the bloc vote from the county's ultra-Orthodox community.
“The video likened me to a stormtrooper, frankly a Nazi stormtrooper,” says Diederich.
The video even included a flash frame with Walsh's campaign slogan.
Now, both the Jewish Federation of Rockland and County Executive Ed Day are denouncing the video as hateful propaganda.

“To play a video in a predominantly Orthodox community that shows FBI knocking down doors and taking them out of the home, that sounds like Kristallnacht,” says Day. “I'm calling for the chairman of the Democratic party, Kristen Stavisky, to immediately condemn this, loudly and strongly.”
Stavisky did not condemn the video, telling News 12 it didn't come from the Democratic committee, and “There is nothing in the imagery about religion and nothing targeting a specific community.”
But News 12 found another video, also in Yiddish, attacking Diederich, saying he'll close yeshivas if elected.

So far, no one has been able to tell News 12 who created the videos.
Walsh could not be reached for comment about the videos attacking his opponent in Tuesday's race for district attorney. 


More from News 12
1:52
Hudson Valley doctors warn of listeria dangers following multi-state outbreak

Hudson Valley doctors warn of listeria dangers following multi-state outbreak

2:04
Sunny skies and warm temps for Saturday in the Hudson Valley

Sunny skies and warm temps for Saturday in the Hudson Valley

0:38
Multimillion-dollar transformation on the way for sections of Hudson Valley

Multimillion-dollar transformation on the way for sections of Hudson Valley

0:49
New basketball documentary film 'The Process' has ties to Westchester

New basketball documentary film 'The Process' has ties to Westchester

0:49
Olympic watch party in Pomona cheers on Rockland athletes

Olympic watch party in Pomona cheers on Rockland athletes

0:32
Veteran firefighter who suffered stroke receives warm welcome home

Veteran firefighter who suffered stroke receives warm welcome home

0:17
Yorktown police sergeant celebrates final walkout following 2 decades of service

Yorktown police sergeant celebrates final walkout following 2 decades of service

1:40
Lithium-ion battery fire blamed for closure of Newburgh tailor shop

Lithium-ion battery fire blamed for closure of Newburgh tailor shop

0:52
Slate Hill family of 5 loses home in afternoon blaze

Slate Hill family of 5 loses home in afternoon blaze

0:37
2 people charged in Middletown narcotics; firearms bust

2 people charged in Middletown narcotics; firearms bust

1:30
Motorcycle, van crash in Greenburgh causes serious injuries

Motorcycle, van crash in Greenburgh causes serious injuries

0:56
News 12 probes mystery cloud traced to Orange County & seen throughout tri-state area

News 12 probes mystery cloud traced to Orange County & seen throughout tri-state area

1:02
Hillcrest Fire Department receives 2,000 cans of drinking water, courtesy of Anheuser-Busch

Hillcrest Fire Department receives 2,000 cans of drinking water, courtesy of Anheuser-Busch

1:37
Storm Watch Team Meteorologist Skyler Harman strikes down lightning myths

Storm Watch Team Meteorologist Skyler Harman strikes down lightning myths

2:33
Can swimming become dangerous due to extremely high water surface temperatures?

Can swimming become dangerous due to extremely high water surface temperatures?

0:32
NYC officials: Westchester caseworker’s death ruled a homicide

NYC officials: Westchester caseworker’s death ruled a homicide

0:40
State, federal lawmakers introduce legislation to shorten funding gap for World Trade Center Health Program

State, federal lawmakers introduce legislation to shorten funding gap for World Trade Center Health Program

0:34
Ex Frito-Lay employee files defamation lawsuit against PepsiCo claiming he invented ‘Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

Ex Frito-Lay employee files defamation lawsuit against PepsiCo claiming he invented ‘Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

0:40
Executive orders still in place preventing Rockland County and Orange County hotels from converting into migrant shelters

Executive orders still in place preventing Rockland County and Orange County hotels from converting into migrant shelters

0:34
Finger in salad lawsuit against Chop’t discontinued

Finger in salad lawsuit against Chop’t discontinued