An image of a canister of Zyklon B, the poison gas used by the Nazis, posted by farmers market vendor Justin Bale. Photo: Screenshot

A farmers market in the city of Overland Park, Kansas has ejected one of it vendors for posting violently antisemitic content described by one local Jewish official as “some of the most despicable examples of antisemitic hate I’ve ever seen.”

In a statement on Friday, Meg Ralph, a spokeswoman for the Overland Park City Council, confirmed that the vendor — Justin Bale, who owns an outlet called “PepperCave” — had been “suspended indefinitely” from the market due to “antisemitic social media posts.”

“We have reminded all market vendors that the Overland Park Farmers’ Market is an open-minded and inclusive community, and request vendors represent themselves in accordance with market values,” Ralph said.

The suspension followed a series of antisemitic messages issued by Bale this week to promote what he calls a “Christian family business that produces hot sauces, rubs, seasonings, and snacks.”

In one post on Facebook, Bale encouraged his customers to use an antisemitic code to obtain discounts on his products.

“Remember to save 14.88% on all orders with code: GasThejews,” he wrote.

In neo-Nazi and white supremacist circles, the numbers 14 and 88 carry symbolic significance. The number 14 represents the “fourteen words” — a racist and antisemitic mantra coined by David Lane, an American neo-Nazi leader — while 88 signifies the letters “HH,” for the slogan “Heil Hitler.”

Other posts this week included an image of a canister bearing the words “Zyklon B” — the poisonous gas used by the Nazis to exterminate concentration camp inmates — and a threat directed at Jews that declared, “Your whole species will soon be exterminated worldwide.”

Other vendors at the market expressed horror at Bale’s actions.

Michael Raether — who runs Happy Valley Farm with his wife, Patti — told Fox News that he had been startled by the posts.

“I saw [the Facebook page] and my first thought was, ‘This guy’s been hacked.’ So, I texted him to ask, ‘Is this you?’ And he kind of went on a tirade and I said, ‘It is you!'” he said.

Raether said that merchandise belonging to PepperCave that remained at the market would be placed in the trash. “It’s not going anywhere. I wouldn’t even donate it to anybody,” he said.

Separately, a reviewer on Facebook told Bale: “Antisemitism will not be tolerated in this community. Good luck selling online when everyone hears what a giant steaming pile of garbage you are.”

Gavriela Geller, executive director of Overland Park’s Jewish Community Relations Bureau/American Jewish Committee, told the Kansas City Star that the posts “are some of the most despicable examples of antisemitic hate I’ve ever seen.”

Geller added: “Unfortunately, this is a reflection of the rise in antisemitism in America, including a rise in white nationalist and white supremacist ideologies. We can no longer be surprised that this hate is present in our region. These ideologies have been gaining traction for years, including in suburban areas.”

Reached by the same news outlet for comment regarding his ejection from the market, Bale replied, “Read your bible. Christ is King!”

Fox News reported that it had received a “hate-filled response” when its reporter reached out to Bale, which the network chose not to broadcast.

Bale has now set up an online fundraising page for supporters to donate to his legal costs and day to day living expenses. As of Friday, the page had raised just $270 of its total goal of $100,000.