HOWELL, Mich. (WLNS)— A group of people were seen waving Nazi flags in two different Mid-Michigan cities, including outside of a Jewish play.
Many people were waving flags with swastikas on them in front of the American Legion Post in Howell. At the same time, the Fowlerville Community Theater performed the “Diary of Anne Frank” on Saturday night.
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People holding Nazi flags harass citizens in Mid-Michigan. (Pics on 6) -
People holding Nazi flags harass citizens in Mid-Michigan. (Pics on 6) -
People holding Nazi flags harass citizens in Mid-Michigan. (Pics on 6)
A member of the Howell American Legion Post says the legion heard about the rising antisemitism and thought people could learn from the play.
Becky Frank, a cast member who played Anne Frank’s mother, says the incident was very troubling.
“It was upsetting,” said Frank. “You know, just knowing the character I was playing, knowing a lot of the research that I did on my character.”
Brandon Johnson, Director of the play, says he’s never experienced anything like that before.
“It kind, of uh, surprised me to have something that I was doing and had my name on getting protested.”
The theater group had been performing the play for 2 weeks.
Laura Goldtwait, Commander at the Howell American Legion says she believes the group was there to intimidate people, something the legion doesn’t stand for.
“I’m at a loss honestly,” said Goldtwiat. “Both personally and as an organization.”
Witnesses say after the group left Howell, they made their way to downtown Fowlerville.
One witness says the men had their faces covered with masks that read 1488, a symbol of white supremacy.
Alex Sutfill, who was driving downtown with his wife at the time says he called the police after seeing the group.
“There was a group of people at the four-way intersection in downtown that had swastika flags and American flags,” said Sutfill. “They were sticking their arms up and yelling hail Hitler and Hail Trump and everything like that.”
Peter Damerow, who confronted the group says they told him to go back to his country.
“They looked at me and one of them said,” said Damerow. “No this is Pureville now, and we’re here to make sure it stays pure.”
He says he believes the group did this due to the current political climate within the county.
“I really felt like they felt comfortable enough to do this because of Trump’s reelection and what they said to me at the stop light made that quite clear,” said Damerow.
Although the night was interrupted, the Fowlerville Community Theater said they were able to finish performing the play.
They were just happy to represent history.
