HOWELL, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – In a chilling display of neo-Nazi sentiment, demonstrators waving swastika flags gathered outside an American Legion Post in Howell, Michigan on Saturday, November 9th, where the Fowlerville Community Theater was performing The Diary of Anne Frank.

A group of about ten masked individuals in their 20s, reportedly displayed white supremacist symbols and hurled disturbing slurs – a shocking move that left both the performers and the community stunned.

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They were outside of the venue for about 30 minutes and shouted things like “Ann Frank was a whore.” A video of the protesters was recorded and can be viewed here.

The Saturday show was sold out and the guests were made aware of the protests during an intermission.

American Legion Commander Laura Goldtwait expressed the community’s shock, saying, “I’m at a loss honestly. Both personally and as an organization.” The incident has cast a dark shadow over what was meant to be an educational and historical experience.

A troubling convergence.

For cast member Becky Frank, who portrayed Anne Frank’s mother, the protest’s timing was disturbing. “It was upsetting,” she shared with WLNS. “You know, just knowing the character I was playing, knowing a lot of the research that I did on my character.”

The play, a solemn retelling of Anne Frank’s story during the Holocaust, had been running smoothly for about two weeks until this particular night.

Witnesses reported that after leaving the American Legion Post, the neo-Nazi group moved to downtown Fowlerville, where they continued their display. They were seen chanting phrases like “Heil Hitler,” a rally cry that left onlookers questioning how such bold expressions of hate could occur openly in their town.

The persistence of prejudice.

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Recent events after the October 7th, 2003 attack on Israel by Hamas, show that antisemitism is no longer a relic of history. According to the Anti-Defamation League, antisemitic incidents in Michigan rose dramatically in recent years, with 267 recorded in 2023 alone. Many of those incidents have been reported out of the University of Michigan’s campus in Ann Arbor where pro-Palestinian groups have aggressively targeted Israel, Jewish individuals and their supporters.

Community and resilience.

While the neo-Nazi protest was undoubtedly a frightening reminder of lingering antisemitism, the response from both the American Legion and the theater community has been one of resilience and resolve. Bobby Brite, a Legion leader and Army veteran, had advised the community to “just drive on by, ignore them.” Brite added, “They came to the wrong place.”

U.S. Representative Elissa Slotkin, a Holly Democrat, echoed this defiance, writing on X, “It’s more important than ever to fight back against hate, especially at the local level. To the American Legion offering their hall for a play about Anne Frank: profound thanks. To the handful of masked, antisemitic creeps waving Nazi flags: Nazis always lose.”

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) also made a statement on X condemning what happened:

The show goes on.

Despite the dark protest outside, the performance continued. with Chuck Firman of the Fowlerville Community Theater remarking to Detroit Metro Times, “I’m not going to lie. It was a scary moment. But really, the show must go on.” For the cast and crew, the ordeal served as a stark reminder that antisemitism is not a remnant of history but a present challenge – and it allowed them a moment of reflection on the bravery of the real Anne Frank and the lives lost in the Holocaust

Ultimately, Howell’s citizens seem determined to prove that love, education, and resilience will drown out the voices of hate. As the community stands together, they send a clear message to those who try to intimidate: Hate has no home in Howell.