A community theater production of The Diary of Anne Frank in Howell, Michigan, was disrupted on Saturday night by a group of masked men waving Nazi flags and shouting antisemitic slurs outside the American Legion Post 141. The incident, described as "shocking" by attendees, highlighted rising concerns about antisemitism and hate speech in the region and across the country.
The demonstration by five masked individuals, who displayed swastika-adorned flags, unfolded as the Fowlerville Community Theatre staged the play by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett. The presence of protesters left the cast and audience "understandably shaken," according to a statement by the theater group. "On Saturday evening, things became more real than we expected," the statement read. "The presence of protesters outside gave us a small glimpse of the fear and uncertainty felt by those in hiding."
Law enforcement responded to a report of a "disturbance" at 7:43 p.m., according to the Livingston County Sheriff's Office. Deputies instructed the demonstrators to vacate the Legion's property, and they subsequently relocated across the street, where they continued their display. A verbal altercation ensued when a bystander approached the protesters, but the confrontation did not escalate physically, Sheriff Michael Murphy reported.
People with Nazi flags harass citizens in Mid-Michigan
Laura Goldtwait, commander at the Howell American Legion, said she believes the group was there to intimidate people, something the legion doesn’t stand for. #Michigan #Antisemitism https://t.co/Cf4T1aU76c pic.twitter.com/QIPIuUbjio — Michigan News Source (@MINewsSource) November 11, 2024
Inside the theater, performers were informed of the situation during intermission, a time when many cast members were still in character. Despite the disruption, the cast decided to proceed with the performance, demonstrating "strength and professionalism," the theater said. Audience members were also briefed on the incident as tensions simmered.
"This production centers on real people who lost their lives in the Holocaust, and we have endeavored to tell their story with as much realism as possible," the theater noted in its statement. The play recounts the life of Anne Frank, a Jewish teenager whose diary chronicled her family's efforts to hide from Nazi persecution during World War II. She later perished at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.
Reactions from attendees underscored the emotional impact of the protest. Army veteran Bobby Brite, a past commander of the American Legion Post, described the scene as both "appalling" and deeply troubling. "People were shocked. They were appalled. Everything you would expect," Brite told WXYZ. Many audience members were reportedly afraid to leave the building, prompting escorts to their cars. "Nobody in America should feel like that," Brite said.
The incident drew condemnation from community leaders and advocacy organizations. The Michigan Anti-Defamation League denounced the protest, stating, "We are disgusted by the far-right extremists who praised Hitler and waved Nazi flags outside of an American Legion hosting the play." The group emphasized that hate has no place in Howell or any community across the nation.
Saturday's events mirrored other displays of antisemitism and hate speech seen across Michigan in recent months. In July, white supremacists marched through Howell, a community roughly 40 miles northwest of Detroit. The latest incident serves as a stark reminder of ongoing concerns about antisemitism and extremism, both locally and nationally.
Brandon Johnson, the director of the play, expressed dismay over the protest targeting the production. "It kind of surprised me to have something that I was doing and had my name on getting protested," he told WLNS. Becky Frank, who portrayed Edith Frank in the play, echoed the sentiment, noting the personal impact of portraying a historical character while being confronted with hate symbols.
While the incident did not result in physical violence, the emotional toll remains palpable. "It's actually heartbreaking," Brite reflected. "I don't know how we come away from it." Another veteran, Mark Epley, called for unity and condemned the display of hatred. "We need to work together to bring this country back together instead of tearing it apart," Epley said.
The Fowlerville Community Theatre hopes that by continuing to tell Anne Frank's story, they can contribute to educating the public and preventing history's darkest chapters from repeating. "As a theatre, we want to make people feel and think," the group stated. "We hope by presenting Anne's story, we can help prevent the atrocities of the past from happening again."
