On May 3, 2019, someone used a drone to drop leaflets featuring anti-media propaganda across Sacramento, California.
A drone dropped the flyers near the Golden 1 Center where hundreds of fans were waiting to attend an Ariana Grande concert. Leaflets were also dropped over Sacramento State Farm-to-Fork "Bites on the Bridge" annual fundraiser dinner.
“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,” Robert S Nelson, the university’s president, said in a statement published on Facebook.
According to CBS Sacramento, officials from the college confirmed that the college’s police department is investigating the incident.
The flyers had different designs and featured anti-media rhetoric, according to university newspaper The State Hornet. Some of the flyers also featured nazi symbols such as swastikas. The State Hornet also reports that the flyers were released on both sides of the Guy West Bridge by an aerial drone around 6:30 p.m on May 3, 2019.
One of the flyers had the words ”Tracy Mapes © 2018” written in a corner. Tracy Mapes happens to be the same guy responsible for dropping leaflets over two NFL games.
A Twitter account using the name Tracy Mapes appears to have tweeted drone images of the California State Capitol. The account also posted pictures of the anti-media propaganda flyers. Tracy Mapes also released the video above dated dated April 23, 2019, which shows actual footage of a drone dropping leaflets over the California State Capital building.
We will keep you updated on this story as more details develop.
Update: Drone pilot now faces charges for violating airspace over two NFL Stadiums when he used his drone to drop flyers over thousands of spectators.