LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — Members of the Livingston County group are voicing their considerations after individuals waving Nazi flags gathered in Howell and Fowlerville Saturday night time. Residents and officers alike are notably upset, given the lengthy historical past of racism within the county.
A number of individuals in Howell have been seen waving Nazi flags exterior of an American Legion Submit that was internet hosting a theatre efficiency of “The Diary of Anne Frank” Saturday night time. After the group left Howell, they made their technique to downtown Fowlerville, the place they gathered in one of many city’s main intersections.
CONTEXT: Individuals holding Nazi flags harass residents in Mid-Michigan
The Fowlerville Neighborhood Theatre, who have been performing “The Diary of Anne Frank,” launched an announcement on Fb studying, partially:
As a theatre, we’re storytellers. We inform tales that transport audiences to completely different occasions and locations—some actual, some fantastical. This manufacturing facilities on actual individuals who misplaced their lives within the Holocaust, and we have now endeavored to inform their story with as a lot realism as doable. On Saturday night, issues grew to become extra actual than we anticipated; The presence of protesters exterior gave us a small glimpse of the feare and uncertainty felt by these in hiding.
As a theatre, we wish to make individuals really feel and suppose. We hope that by presenting Anne’s story, we can assist forestall the atrocities of the previous from occurring once more.
Fowlerville Neighborhood Theatre, Press Launch, Nov. 11, 2024.
6 Information additionally had the possibility to talk to members of a neighborhood advocacy group, Stand Towards Extremism LivCo (SAGE), concerning the incident
“I can’t say I was shocked, because we have seen them in the community in the last year,” stated Tonya Defever, a member of the group. “I guess I felt really saddened.”
In July, organizers held a “White Lives Matter” rally in downtown Howell, the place not less than a dozen individuals holding white supremacist indicators and chanting ‘Heil Hitler’ marched down Grand River Avenue.
It is gotten to the purpose the place some residents of the realm could really feel threatened.
“[I] instantly [contacted] my Fowlerville people and make sure that everybody knew,” stated Julie Ohashi, co-founder of SAGE, “and Howell people that they were out, and just to be careful if you were in the area because it’s dangerous.”
The SAGE representatives 6 Information spoke to say that they are aware of the Howell and Fowelerville communities and that these occasions do not characterize everybody from the county. Nevertheless, in addition they say native management has been silent about white supremacy, one thing they are saying wants to vary.
Livingston County, notably the Howell space, has a recognized affiliation with racism. The now-deceased Robert E. Miles, Michigan Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan, was recognized to carry KKK gatherings that drew nationwide consideration from each fellow white supremacists and nationwide media retailers on his close by property.
Individuals holding Nazi flags harass residents in Mid-Michigan. (Pics on 6)
Individuals holding Nazi flags harass residents in Mid-Michigan. (Pics on 6)
Individuals holding Nazi flags harass residents in Mid-Michigan. (Pics on 6)
Nevertheless, native officers say that it is time to transfer previous that historical past.
“I’ll say to those that are using our community and in most cases don’t even live here, to promote a message of hate, quit coming here,” says Jason Woolford, who represents the realm within the Michigan Home of Representatives.
Current occasions doubtlessly bringing again a few of Howell’s racist popularity proceed to frustrate native officers.
“It was national news,” stated Howell Mayor Robert Ellis. “And it’s very difficult to respond to that because we don’t have a national voice.”
