As Trump protested in Grand Rapids, protesters chanted ‘Heil Hitler’ in Howell

HOWELL — As Trump prepared to take the stage in Grand Rapids, his first rally since an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania, a group of white supremacists prepared to march in Howell.

The protesters chanted “Heil Hitler” during a march on Saturday, July 20, that lasted about a half hour, city officials said. About a dozen participants, with their faces covered and signs in hand, gathered on the lawn of the Livingston County Historic Courthouse.

The protesters marched down Grand River Avenue to the lawn of the Howell Carnegie District Library before a library board member confronted them and told them to leave. They went to their cars while being monitored by the Howell Police Department, who confirmed that several protesters came from outside the community, including Saginaw and Macomb County.

“While we recognize their right to free speech, these protesters do not reflect the values of the Howell community,” the city wrote in a statement, adding that it joins the Livingston Diversity Council and the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce in “(standing) united in condemning the group’s racist ideology.”

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“We pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive community, which is likely why we were targeted by this outside group,” the statement continued. “We would also like to thank all of our residents who responded quickly to this event and made it clear that we do not share their views.”

Another demonstration, in which participants waved flags with a swastika, the term “KKK” and other anti-Semitic messages, took place Saturday on the I-96 and Latson Road overpass, according to photos and videos posted to a community Facebook group. It was not immediately clear whether the protesters were the same ones who marched downtown.

In a video, protesters repeatedly chant, “We love Hitler, we love Trump.” The photos show a person dressed all in black appearing to give the Hitler salute.

This is a developing story. Check back for additional updates.