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Residents and commissioners clash over presence of white supremacist groups during Livingston County public comment
Summary
Dozens of residents urged the county to take action against neo‑Nazi and white‑supremacist activity; other residents and some commissioners disputed the scale of the problem. The exchange dominated the meeting’s public‑comment period and prompted calls for local officials and law enforcement to act or clarify responses.
A prolonged public‑comment period at the Livingston County Board of Commissioners meeting on Feb. 24 featured repeated testimony about alleged increases in neo‑Nazi and white‑supremacist activity and sharp pushback from other residents who said the county is being unfairly characterized.
Several residents told the board they feel less safe and want stronger action from county officials and law enforcement. Edwin Hansen Meyer of Hamburg Township said he has lived in the county for more than 34 years and that he has seen “a definite increase” in activity by hate groups and would like to know what the commission plans to do. “I’d like to see as much of this that can be averted as possible,” he said on the record.
Tanya Hansen Meyer, who said she is the granddaughter of a German mother who lived through World War II, told commissioners she is emotionally affected by reports of neo‑Nazi behavior and said she is considering whether she should leave the county because she does not feel safe after 34 years in Livingston County.
Other speakers described specific incidents and urged official responses. A SAGE member identified as Tanya (last name in the record: Dufiner) said SAGE coordinated a safety team at a theater event and that the group had alerted law enforcement when it believed an individual tied to past demonstrations attempted to enter. "Because of SAGE's Citizen Watch flyers, which have Cooper's face included, community members were able to identify him at the door, allowing the safety team to take quick action in removing him from the venue," she said.
Speakers who disputed the characterization of the county as a hotbed of white supremacy also addressed the board. Stacy Rutledge, who said she moved to Livingston County in 2002 and previously lived in Hawaii, said, “There are no Nazis in Livingston County,” and called some public allegations a quest for attention. Larry Parsons, a veteran who said he worked undercover to monitor neo‑Nazi activity while serving in Germany, said he believes many reports are false or exaggerated.
Several residents said the issue is concentrated in the city of Howell. Deb Dreeck, a Howell resident on Zoom, said she has lived in the county more than 50 years and recalled when racism existed here but said “we're not that way anymore.” She urged critics to take complaints to the appropriate local officials when incidents are alleged rather than to place blame on the entire county.
Other commenters described experiences they said showed unequal responses by law enforcement. A SAGE member said downtown business owners reported being harassed and that video showed people of color being harassed while police were present. Stephanie Bluth recounted what she described as harassment and intimidation she experienced after attending a theater preview and criticized authorities for a limited response.
Commissioners did not adopt a new policy at the meeting during public comment, but the volume and tenor of remarks prompted extended discussion among commissioners in other agenda items and were followed by statements in later parts of the meeting. Several speakers urged the board to issue clearer public statements, share information with vulnerable residents and coordinate with law enforcement; others cautioned that some public accusations were inaccurate and damaging to community reputation.
Why it matters: The comments touch on public safety, community trust in law enforcement and the role of county and municipal officials in responding to extremist activity. Residents who said they were targeted or frightened seek concrete action and transparency; residents who disputed the allegations said the accusations harm the county’s reputation.
Speakers on both sides mentioned local groups by name, including SAGE, and referenced media coverage and a documentary film shown at the Howell Theater, "Face of Hate." County leaders listened through the public comment period but did not adopt a new directive at that time.
Sources: Verbatim public comments recorded at the Livingston County Board of Commissioners meeting, Feb. 24, 2025, including statements by Edwin Hansen Meyer (Hamburg Township resident), Tanya Hansen Meyer (Hamburg Township resident), Stacy Rutledge (Howell resident), Jeff Amile (Howell resident), Stephanie Bluth, Tanya Dufiner (SAGE member), Elaine C. (SAGE member), Barbara Tonkovich (Genoa Township), Dan Hollahan, Larry Parsons, Anne Gebauer (Iosco Township), Norris Hardemann (Putnam Township), Sharon Volio (Howell Township), Colleen Quinn (Genoa Township) and others who spoke during the call to the public.
