12/2/24 Howell to hire PR firm after Neo-Nazi demonstrations, community members say it's not enough

“SAGE co-founder Julie Ohashi says city leaders are not being proactive to stop white supremacist and extremist groups from organizing.

"Our assumption that the inaction and the silence are giving these white supremacist tactic acceptance to continue harassing our community members, making our marginalized neighbors feel unsafe and keeping folks away who would normally, you know, shop and eat here," she said.

"That's why we're taking action, because if we don't, we know the hate will continue to escalate."

Ohashi says SAGE maintains a form on its Facebook page for reporting hate and bias incidents. She adds the group asked county and city officials earlier this year to create a reporting mechanism.

Ohashi says she'd also like to see police officers and sheriff's deputies receive more cultural competency and bias training as well as for the county to create a Hate and Bias Response team.

"We have to find the source and get rid of it, and people don't come where they're not wanted. So, Livingston County needs to figure out why these groups think they're welcomed here, and then solve that problem."

The organization is also collaborating with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights to develop long-term and community-driven strategies to combat hate.” Link