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SCAN PAGE TO SEE THE VIDEO
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fl yers found at
Ferndale church.
STACY GITTLEMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
T
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he Anti-Defamation League
Michigan office is working with
local and federal investigative
authorities to uncover who plastered
a Ferndale church with anti-Semitic
flyers during the Arts, Beats and Eats
festival. The flyers were also found at
businesses along Woodward Avenue
in Royal Oak and streets in Southfield
and Detroit over Labor Day weekend.
The flyers contained the wording
“brought to you by the Daily Stormer
Book Club” and expressed support
for the white supremacist website,
The Daily Stormer, as well as for anti-
government conspiracy theorist Alex
Jones.
The Rev. Robert Schoenhals and
his wife, Jill Warren, arrived 8:43 a.m.
Sunday, Sept. 2, at the First United
Methodist Church at 22331 Woodward
Ave. to find three of the building’s
doors had been plastered with the fly-
ers depicting ugly caricatures of Jews.
Though Schoenhals is not cer-
tain why his church was a target,
he suspects it may be because his
congregation is active in social jus-
tice and equality causes; its open-
ness and acceptance to people of all
faiths, races and orientations; and
the outdoor art installation protest-
ing the racially charged violence that
occurred in Charlottesville, Va., in the
summer of 2017.
Schoenhals said he is working with
local police but has not yet been con-
tacted by federal authorities such as
the FBI.
“Our church has a strong reputation
for involvement in social activism,
and we stand against prejudices of all
kinds,” Schoenhals said. “Personally,
I do not feel threatened. We have a
very good security system, but we will
24725 West 12 Mile – Ste. 110
Southfield, MI 48034
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18
September 13 • 2018
jn
First United Methodist Church members
stand outside their art installation, a
response to the hateful riots that took place
in Charlottesville, Va., last summer.
This flyer was found at a Ferndale church
during Labor Day Weekend.
remind the groups who use our build-
ing to always close the doors behind
them when they enter.”
On Tuesday, Sept. 4, Ferndale police
released a video of a white man in
sunglasses and a hat who appears to
be posting the offensive flyers on the
outside of the church. Ferndale police
officials said they filed a report, but
because of First Amendment issues,
this may not be a criminal matter and
may fall under the protection of free
speech.
According to the Anti-Defamation
League, Daily Stormer Book Clubs are
small crews of young white men who
follow and support neo-Nazi Andrew
Anglin and his Daily Stormer website,
which contains hateful, racist content.
Anglin and other contributors use the
site to promote Adolf Hitler, Holocaust
denial, anti-Semitism and other forms
of hate. The website’s propaganda
includes trolling instructions and
urges readers to use these techniques
to harass Jews and other minorities, as
well as women and journalists.
Carolyn Normandin, ADL Michigan
regional director, said she sees no
correlation to the timing of the flyer
distribution and the approaching
Jewish High Holiday season. In any
case, she said the ADL is working with
synagogues and the community-wide
security arm of the Jewish Federation
of Metropolitan Detroit.
Normandin said the ADL also
saw similar flyers distributed in
California over the Labor Day week-
end.
“Whether it be a church, a syna-
gogue or simply targeting people
enjoying activities over a long
holiday weekend (like Arts, Beats
and Eats), haters are going to hate,”
Normandin said.
“What we all need to do is to
stand up to the haters and say we
are not going to be targeted or afraid
by your despicable flyers. The more
of us who stand up and speak out,
the better.” •