Drone drops swastika-laden, anti-media fliers outside Ariana Grande concert in Sacramento

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KTVU) - Police are investigating who flew a drone that dropped swastika-laden, anti-media flyers in Sacramento Friday night outside of both an outdoor Sacramento State fundraising dinner and an Ariana Grande concert.

Sacramento State president Robert S. Nelsen confirmed the school's "Bites on the Bridge" dinner was bombarded by the flyers, in a statement. 

"Sacramento State condemns in the strongest terms the dissemination of hate speech and propaganda,” he wrote. "The anonymous act of spreading such vile material is offensive and runs counter to the principles of inclusion and diversity practiced at Sac State. It did not stop the event, nor will it slow our march toward greater understanding and commitment to the rights and safety of our campus community."

A reporter with the Sacramento State student newspaper, the State Hornet, captured images of the propaganda, which included phrases such as, "Stop the press! The press is the enemy!" and "Stop the TV whore takeover!" as well as images of a swastika on some of the papers dispersed to the crowds.

Some of the leaflets have the name Tracy Mapes in the corner with a copyright symbol and the year 2018 on them. According to previous reporting in The Sacramento Bee, Mapes is a Sacramento resident who has been arrested over dropping leaflets at sporting events.

The Bee reported in 2017 that Mapes was arrested after flying a drone over a San Francisco 49ers game in Santa Clara. Police said Mapes dropped leaflets that addressed free speech and railed against television news stations. According to the 2017 report, Mapes also planned to drop the leaflets at an Oakland Raiders game.
 

This story was reported from Oakland, Calif.