A group of Michigan men showed up at the venue of a theatrical performance of "The Diary of Anne Frank" displaying flags featuring Nazi and confederate symbols, and yelling antisemitic slurs in protest.
“Hail Hitler” and “Hail Trump” - People wave Nazi flags outside theatre presenting Jewish play, “The Diary of Anne Frank,” in Michigan. pic.twitter.com/bjC2Z1e4Ak
— Bryan Dawson🇺🇸 (@BryanDawsonUSA) November 12, 2024
The play, which was being hosted at the American Legion Post 141 in Livingston County, was protested by the men on Saturday, as reported by WXYZ.
"There was a group of people at the four-way intersection in downtown that had swastika flags and American flags," Alex Sutfill, who called law enforcement after encountering the group while driving downtown with his wife, told the station. "They were sticking their arms up and yelling 'hail Hitler' and 'hail Trump' and everything like that."
"People were shocked. They were appalled," past commander of the post Bobby Brite told WXYZ, recounting how himself and 75 other audience members who came to watch the play were afraid to encounter the mob on the walk to their cars. "Everything you would expect."
"Nobody in America should feel like that," Brite continued.
The Fowlerville Community Theatre released a statement about the play they produced, recognizing how the existence of the mob mimicked the harsh realities of World War II.
"As a theatre, we are storytellers. We tell stories that transport audiences to different times and places -- some real, some fantastical. 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 wrote.
"On Saturday evening, things became more real than we expected; The presence of protestors outside gave us a small glimpse of the fear and uncertainty felt by those in hiding," they continued.
The protestors eventually left the parking lot they were protesting in after being asked to do so by law enforcement, reported The Detroit News.
"The demonstrators then went across the street and waved flags adorned with Nazi insignia," a statement from the sheriff's office said. "A subject then approached them, and an argument ensued. Nothing physical transpired and ultimately the parties involved separated."
The play, which was performed again on Sunday evening, was able to commence "without further incident," the sheriff's office stated.
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