Community Shaken by Display of Hate Outside Michigan Theater’s “The Diary of Anne Frank”

[Social Media]

 

A disturbing scene unfolded outside a community theater in Livingston County, Michigan, where demonstrators carrying Nazi flags gathered in protest during a performance of *The Diary of Anne Frank*. The antisemitic demonstration took place outside the American Legion Post 141 in Howell, where the play was being staged, and involved masked individuals who reportedly waved Nazi flags and shouted hateful, racist slurs, according to WXYZ, a CNN affiliate.

“Hail Hitler” and “Hail Trump” - People wave Nazi flags outside theatre presenting Jewish play, “The Diary of Anne Frank,” in Michigan. pic.twitter.com/bjC2Z1e4Ak

— Bryan Dawson🇺🇸 (@BryanDawsonUSA) November 12, 2024

 

“People were shocked. They were appalled,” said Bobby Brite, an Army veteran who attended the performance. Brite described how unsettling the experience was for many of the 75 theatergoers, some of whom felt afraid to leave and needed assistance to get to their vehicles. “Nobody in America should feel like that,” Brite added, highlighting the unease that followed the protest.

 

In addition to Howell, demonstrators were also reported in the nearby town of Fowlerville. Alex Sutliff, who witnessed the scene while driving through Fowlerville with his wife, encountered the group at a stoplight and was shocked by their behavior. “They were saying awful antisemitic things that I don’t even feel comfortable repeating myself,” Sutliff shared with CNN. He described how the group “all stuck their hands up” while chanting “Heil Hitler, Heil Trump.” Sutliff quickly left as the light turned green, calling the police to report the incident as he and his wife circled back to alert the demonstrators that authorities were on their way. Upon hearing this, the demonstrators dispersed, leaving before the police arrived.

 

The incident has sparked concerns among both local residents and the theater group itself. The Fowlerville Community Theatre, responsible for the production, issued a statement acknowledging that the play is intended to reflect the real experiences of those who suffered in the Holocaust. The group emphasized their commitment to portraying these stories with authenticity, adding that the protest outside brought an unexpected element of realism to the production. “On Saturday evening, things became more real than we expected,” the statement read, describing how the presence of the demonstrators offered “a small glimpse of the fear and uncertainty felt by those in hiding.” The theater group also expressed hope that by sharing Anne Frank’s story, they might contribute to preventing such atrocities from recurring. “As a theatre, we want to make people feel and think,” the statement continued.

 

In response to the protest, the Anti-Defamation League’s Michigan regional office condemned the actions, expressing outrage on social media. The ADL described the demonstration as “disgusting,” particularly in light of the way these extremists openly celebrated symbols of hatred. This incident follows other recent acts of hate in Livingston County; just a few months earlier, White supremacist groups staged a march in Howell, located about 40 miles from Detroit.

 

Amid a broader rise in antisemitic incidents, the ADL reported a significant spike in threats against Jews in the U.S., noting a threefold increase in the year since the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas. This increase is part of a larger trend, with a surge in hate crimes targeting Jews, Muslims, and Arabs in the weeks following the attack. 

 

For this Michigan community, the demonstration serves as a sobering reminder of the need for vigilance against hatred. The theater company, undeterred, remains committed to bringing the stories of Holocaust victims to the stage, hoping that empathy and awareness can be kindled even in the face of such adversity.

 

 

Based on a report by CNN 2024-11-14

 

 

 

[RichardColeman]

OK, I like to consider myself very right wing, but these people are just idiots - which both the left and right have

[newbee2022]

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

OK, I like to consider myself very right wing, but these people are just idiots - which both the left and right have

Well, if you get a Fascist as your next leader it's astonishing that this riffraff have to mask themselves.