Updated 4:25 p.m.

A man in Preble, New York will not remove the Nazi flag flying in front of his home, saying that it is in response to a neighbor hacking his WiFi, Spectrum News reports.

Jody Fish told Spectrum News that “no one is doing anything” about the neighbor’s alleged hacking, so he raised the flag in an attempt to get the town’s attention.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

An online petition urging the town to take action against the flag has almost 900 signatures. The author of the petition wrote that the flag “is guarded by what seems to be some sort of spike connected to [it].” The petition was created over a month ago.

Town supervisor Jim Doring told Spectrum News that the town cannot do anything about the flag, as it is on private property; however, the town does not agree with the decision to raise the flag.

But that explanation didn’t fly with the petition-writer, Shonei Schmoke.

“I don’t accept that there is nothing local representatives can do,” Schmoke told the Forward. “Nazis don’t deserve rights and there’s a massive difference between freedom of speech and hate speech.”

Fish said that, despite his refusal to remove the flag, he is not a Nazi supporter. Instead, he told Spectrum News, he’s a “victim.”

“No, no. Basically, I’m just trying to call attention to — I’m a victim. I would love to take it down, it’s been a nightmare. No. Definitely not, I’m quite the other way. I’m quite Christian,” Fish said.

Juliana Kaplan is a news intern at The Forward. Email her at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter, @julianamkaplan

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount