In a troubling display of antisemitism, a group of masked demonstrators waving Nazi flags disrupted a community theater’s performance of The Diary of Anne Frank in Livingston County, Michigan. The unsettling scene took place on Saturday outside the American Legion Post 141 in Howell, where a group of men reportedly chanted antisemitic and racist slurs, shocking theatergoers and residents alike.
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According to CNN affiliate WXYZ, Army veteran Bobby Brite described the community’s reaction: “People were shocked. They were appalled. Everything you would expect.” Brite added that many of the 75 attendees were fearful to leave the building after the show and had to be escorted to their cars for safety. “Nobody in America should feel like that,” he said.
Eyewitnesses reported that the demonstrators extended their display to the neighboring town of Fowlerville. Alex Sutliff, who was driving through Fowlerville with his wife, described encountering a group of masked men waving Nazi flags and chanting disturbing messages. Sutliff noted that the group raised their arms in a salute and chanted phrases including, “Heil Hitler, Heil Trump.”
Sutliff recorded the encounter on his phone, and although he chose to drive away when the light turned green, he promptly contacted local law enforcement to report the demonstration. “The second that they heard that [police] were on the way, they all packed up their stuff and ran away,” he recounted.
Local authorities are reportedly aware of the incident, but as of now, no further details have been released regarding any ongoing investigation. Community members and theater organizers have expressed concern and dismay, underscoring the importance of standing against hate.
