At American Legion Post 141 in Howell, Michigan, a group of masked protesters were caught waving Nazi flags and shouting anti-Semitic slurs during a performance of The Diary of Anne Frank. The five individuals caused tension and concern among the audience and the cast, forcing those present to take security measures.
Bobby Brite, a veteran who documented the scene in a video, described the confusion of the people attending the play, based on the eponymous book by the young Holocaust victim. He mentioned that among the roughly 75 people at the event, at least fifty felt intimidated and unwilling to leave the building without assistance.
The police quickly intervened after being called to respond to what was described as a “disturbance.” Livingston County Sheriff Michael J. Murphy confirmed that the protesters were asked to leave the area. While tension increased when one person attempted to confront them, no physical confrontations were reported.
Despite the understandable shock, the Fowlerville Community Theatre, which organized the play, decided to continue the performance. In a subsequent statement, they emphasized the significance of this production, which seeks to convey the drama and suffering experienced by Jews.
The Michigan chapter of the Anti-Defamation League, an organization dedicated to combating anti-Semitism, strongly condemned the incident, calling it “disgusting.”
The event has shaken the local community and renewed the debate on the importance of keeping the memory and awareness of the horrors of the Holocaust alive, especially at a time when acts of intolerance seem to be resurfacing.
