Drone drops flyers with swastikas outside Ariana Grande concert, fundraiser dinner in Sacramento

Photo illustration -- A drone (not the one pictured) was seen outside of an Ariana Grande concert and a Sacramento State fundraiser dinner, dropping flyers with anti-media sentiments onto crowds below. Photo illustration -- A drone (not the one pictured) was seen outside of an Ariana Grande concert and a Sacramento State fundraiser dinner, dropping flyers with anti-media sentiments onto crowds below. Photo: Spooh/Getty Images Photo: Spooh/Getty Images Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Drone drops flyers with swastikas outside Ariana Grande concert, fundraiser dinner in Sacramento 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A drone dropped swastika-emblazoned, 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 that rebuked the leaflets' messaging.

"Sacramento State condemns in the strongest terms the dissemination of hate speech and propaganda Friday evening at our annual fundraising dinner on the Guy West Bridge," Nelson said via a statement on Facebook.

"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."

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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.

Tweets also confirmed that the flyers were also dropped at the Golden 1 Center, where Ariana Grande was performing that night. A Sacramento State representative told the Sacramento Bee that campus police plan to investigate the incident.

Different forms of flyers were released over the event here a two different types. @TheStateHornet pic.twitter.com/g8Ua2Urreh — Dom_V. (@Dom_Vitiello) May 4, 2019

The flyers also promoted a Facebook page which features further anti-media sentiment and videos of other similar stunts, including dropping leaflets on the State Capitol, the State Hornet reported.

"Tracy Mapes © 2018" was also displayed on one of the papers; Mapes was arrested in 2017 for dropping flyers via drone at both a 49ers and Raiders game, saying his message was about "free speech."

"This isn't a story about a drone. This is a story about the fabric of American history. The First Amendment," Mapes told media outlet KPIX after his 2017 arrest.

Read Dianne de Guzman's latest stories and send her news tips at dianne.deguzman@sfgate.com.

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