3/24/25 sage speaks out at howell city council
Good evening,
After the first white supramcist demo on the Howell courthouse lawn SAGE requested a meeting with Mayor Mr. Ellis to discuss some promising resources that we found which we thought might help in such situations moving forward. On Aug 15th SAGE sent a follow up email to police chief Dunn, who also participated in that meeting, and Mr Ellis recapping the proactive and reactive strategies that the Michigan Alliance Against Hate Crimes put together for communities to counteract “bias incidents.” What is happening around our community with the neo-nazis is what they describe as a “BIAS INCIDENT which is non-criminal act, directed against a victim, their advocate or property, motivated in whole or in part by bias against a protected group and based on the real or perceived race, color, ethnic background, etc.”
They created a community response system (CRS) manual, which I will refer to as a CRS, which is a guide to ways that “communities can rally their residents to heal from hate and bias incidents and help prevent others. So why is community response so important? They state, “Hate and bias instances call into question a community’s ability to protect its citizens and their property and undermine the community’s safety, image, and sense of security. Even where there is no criminal intent the impact is traumatic and intimidating. A CRS can pave the way for a more comprehensive response to hate. It can provide education, training, and opportunities for dialogue to increase understanding and promote prevention. Additionally, it can support the individual(s) and/or groups targeted by hate activity and bring the community together to heal and restore trust.” After digesting the manual SAGE flushed out 4 strategies that we felt could be a good starting point and those were what we discussed. which were creating a Data Collection tool, Developing a mechanism to effectively address community needs, Reviewing policies and procedures with law enforcement and forming a ‘Hate & Bias Response Team’ We were hoping to hear back about how/what would be implemented, but despite some follow up meetings unfortunately nothing actually ever came of this.
Then the white supremacists protested an Anne Frank Play where almost every patron required escort to their vehicles as they were scared and hiding inside. Sheriff Murphy was quoted in the press calling those neo-nazis “peaceful” and provided them protection as they were strongly confronted by Legion members, some of which actually fought nazis decades ago, and ended up leaving to then go harass minority community members in Fowlerville that night.
On Nov 17th SAGE sent this Council an email inviting you to stand with the over 100 concerned folks in a Community & Unity rally response to that nazi protest that put Howell in worldwide news. We explained that a counter demonstration in Howell coułd go a long way to give us a "national voice" to start effectively countering the now nationwide negative public image. We asked you to “be those frontline voices in speaking out against hate.” Unfortunately, Mr. Clos, Ms. Lobur, Mr. Schlittler, Mr. Wilson, and Ms. Britten joined the County Commissioners and our state “representatives” state senator, etc. by not showing up in support. This is despite expressing in that correspondence our concerns that “Passive inaction and silence from local leaders provides tacit acceptance to white supremacy as our marginalized neighbors and their legitimate safety concerns for themselves and their families are ignored.”
We begged for a unified front from community leaders to protect the rights and dignity of ALL our residents, but were ignored with not even so much of a response from most of you. We told you that “The impact has been traumatic to those groups who are targets of this intimidation.“ But were met with silence from every local leader when there was not even so much as a denouncing statement after the Anne Frank protest.
What we did hear is this constant passing the buck “not our township, not Howell” which comes off as denial with the city being negatively impacted by that inaction. The damage to businesses, reputation, etc. does not respect geographical boundaries. This is a countywide issue and Howell is most associated with Livingston County when something like this happens that gets broad coverage. Additionally, Howell is the county seat, it's where all County business is done which is why we are holding Howell City Council accountable for this. Elected officials across the county could save taxpayers the expensive burden of a PR bandaid for City of Howell taxpayers if only they would have the outspoken courage of the people of this community who actually stand against hate campaigns and white supremacist intimidation on our streets.
Where are you guys? This isn’t controversial, at least it shouldn’t be in a country where we still celebrate the birthdays of our WWII veterans who fought this same fascist movement less than a century ago.
At our Feb 24th call to public speech it was stated that we assumed Erv’s press release which basically labeled SAGE a hate group, had gone out without the review of the Council first since it was only his name on the statement. We had given you the benefit of the doubt and asked that you all please read it and reflect. Since then, we have not heard anyone here speak their thoughts about it.
Considering that it was that press statement and the subsequent presentation justifying it that is directly responsible for the City of Howell being back in national news for all the wrong reasons we ask again that you all really look at it and understand exactly how it is that we have got to this point. We need to know if you agree with this statement or not so please- take this time to look it over (gives silence for them to read the statement that was passed out to each of them.
The City Council is ultimately responsible for how the city interacts with the community and in your efforts to publicly denounce any assertion that white supremacy exists in Livingston County, you have begun to embolden violent prejudices.
The letter written by Erv Suida and published with full support of the City requires and teaches our community members to ignore the voices of minority individuals. It is clear by his writing that Mr Suida experiences the needs of the minority members of this community as questionable while seemingly having an innate understanding of where white supremacists are coming from.
The statement clearly positions SAGE as skirting the law and the white supremacists as misguided and misunderstood but, ultimately, upstanding members of our community. Such rhetoric has an immediate effect on readers, who likely view the city's response as well-reasoned and informed. Citizens may start viewing SAGE as a hate group while extremists will use the letter to continue justifying their attempts to silence and terrorize minority members of our community.
Soon after it came out, extremists threatened a SAGE member on their Howell based public podcast by stating their desire [to knock the teeth out of his head]. A few days after that, they publicly doxxed his home address, resulting in a MSP report. After that, this person emailed Erv Suida explaining his personal experience living as a transman in Livingston Co. Erv never responded so we figured we should share this with you, as you hired him and are ultimately responsible for how he impacts the community.
Here is part of that email:
“Those of you who have a say, who can make a difference in this town, county, state, country and world should do all you can to make everyone feel like they belong. Doesn't it weigh upon your soul at all Erv, that hate and discrimination happens on your watch and you are willing to turn a blind eye and profess that "That doesn't happen here!!" with such adamant confidence? Just because you don't experience it or even see it, when people come to you with concern and more so with proof, it deserves to be looked at and taken seriously.
My life, my family's life and my friends lives matter, we shouldn't have to fight just to exist. We shouldn't be afraid to come into spaces that are for everyone.
I attached these pictures to show you that IT DOES happen in Howell, Livingston county, and please don't believe that these are planted people. I am aware of one of them who has been very vocal that lives 2 miles from me, and also contacted a family member trying to recruit them for their Aryan Brotherhood IN LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
I hope that you search your soul and hear what it is the people of this town are asking. No one deserves to be afraid of existing.”