18 August 29 • 2019
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president of Caucus for America, which 
states on its website that it is “dedicated 
to the preservation and promotion of 
our historic American civilization.
” 
“It is just terrible to use the backdrop 
of the Holocaust Memorial Center to 
somehow portray to 
the public that there is 
no difference between 
the real concentration 
camps and the deten-
tion centers,
” Spero said
Greenstein added, 
“People should not be 
using the Holocaust 
Museum and the 
Holocaust as props for 
their political agenda.
” 
Lichtman felt differ-
ently, claiming it “is a very appropriate 
location because this museum stands for 
what happened and what could happen.
”
Speaker Emily DuThinh, a professor 
at Wayne State University, said, “We 
gathered in front of the Holocaust 
Museum to honor the legacy and lessons 
of the Holocaust. The Holocaust taught 
us the necessity to stand up and respect 
diversity and the dignity of all. America 

is a nation of immigrants, but many vic-
tims were killed because America closed 
its borders to refugees in the 1930s.
”
Counter-protesters, situated just south 
of the demonstration, waved American 
flags and used a bullhorn to object to 
points made by the 
speakers, including 
observations that 
America does not sub-
ject detainees to forced 
labor, unlike internees 
in classic concentra-
tion camps. Counter-
protesters also called 
participants in the 
main demonstration 
“commies.
” 
Regarding the pres-
ence of the Proud Boys, Rabbi Spero saw 
them as “eclectic.
”
“I think a lot of them are not aligned 
with fascist groups; there are a lot of 
different chapters and to be fair to them, 
you have to judge them based on their 
particular chapter,
” he said. 
Lichtman had a different opinion 
about the presence of this group.
“It was very surreal to me and every-

body on our side to see them at the rally,
” 
he said. “These are exactly the folks that 
Trump will use, regardless if he wins or 
loses the upcoming election, to harass, 
intimidate and beat up people.
” 
The HMC released a statement Aug. 
20 regarding the rallies:
“The Holocaust Memorial Center 
is not affiliated with the rally activity 
taking place in front of the building. 
The Holocaust Memorial Center is 
proud to be a museum of history and 
an educational institution. We are dedi-

cated to our mission to engage, educate 
and empower by remembering the 
Holocaust. We encourage everyone to 
draw thoughtful conclusions from the 
lessons we teach.
”
Members of the Farmington Hills 
Police Department provided protection 
for both sides of the protest. ■

Contributing Writer Louis Finkelman added to this 

report. See “Publisher’
s Notebook” on page 5.

Protesters and counter-protesters at the Close the Camp Rally Aug. 20 at the HMC

Rabbi Aryeh Spero speaks to a crowd of 

counter-protesters who objected to the 

rally being held at HMC.

Meeting Highlights

Presentation of

The Fred M.
 Butzel Memorial Award for distinguished 

community service to:

Norman A.
 Pappas

Election and installation of officers and board members

The Berman Center for the Performing Arts

Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit

Dessert reception following |
 Dietary laws observed

Presiding

Beverly B.
 Liss |
 Federation President

Alan Jay Kaufman |
 Foundation President

Please respond online by September 6,
 2019,
 

at jewishdetroit.
org/annualmeeting

Questions? Contact Marianne Bloomberg at 

(248) 642-4611 or bloomberg@jfmd.
org 

201
9 
Annual 
Meeting

Tuesday,
 
September 
17
,
 
201
9
7:
30 
pm