Local Clergy Reject Michigan GOP’s Holocaust Comparison on Gun Control
After the Michigan Republican Party tweeted a photo comparing gun control legislation being considered in Michigan to the Holocaust that left more than six million Jewish Europeans dead, 27 clergy members in the Greater Lansing area issued a response and request for an apology.
The state GOP’s tweet came with an image of a box full of rings and the caption, “Before they collected all these wedding rings…they collected all the guns,” comparing Michigan’s Democratic state legislators to the Nazis of 1930s Germany.
The interfaith statement, a copy of which was sent to ELi by East Lansing faith leaders on Sunday, April 1, did not mince words in its expectations of Michigan Republican leadership.
“We call on The Michigan Republican Party to remove the statement from their social media accounts, issue a formal apology to every faith community across Michigan and ensure this type of communication and hatred is not used nor fostered again in future communications,” it read.
Michigan GOP Chairperson Kristina Karamo doubled down on the argument, declining to apologize or retract the March 23 tweet.
“Our 2nd amendment was put in place to protect us from aspiring tyrants,” Karamo posted in a tweet. “MIGOP stands by our statement.”
Melanie Carey, rector of East Lansing’s University United Methodist Church at 1118 Harrison Road, drafted the interfaith response. She felt the GOP tweet was an affront toward all faith communities.
“Because the statement from the Michigan Republican Party leader,” she said, “while it speaks specifically to our brothers and sisters of the Jewish faith, any harmful statement against a particular faith community is actually against all of us. Our whole interfaith community needed to stand together and say this is harmful for all of us.”
Carey, rector of her parish since July 2022 and ordained clergy since 1991, volunteered to write the statement for adoption by members of the interfaith community.
“It’s concerning as a Christian,” she said, “that antisemitic violence is so prevalent right now and so much higher than it used to be. I think it’s appropriate for everyone to stand together, like that saying about evil triumphing when good people do nothing. I honestly believe that most sensible people, regardless of their party affiliation, believe that, too.”
Amy Bigman, rabbi at Congregation Shaarey Zedek in East Lansing, told ELi she doesn’t understand the argument made by the Michigan Republican tweet.
“Comparing this kind of legislation to the Holocaust just doesn’t make sense,” she said. “I don’t understand the logic behind it. The Holocaust was a tragedy [and] Hitler’s stated cause of eliminating all the Jews. Nothing compares to that, absolutely nothing.
“It shows a huge misunderstanding of the Republican Party’s leadership, what that signifies to Jews and other people by conflating these two topics of gun control legislation and the Holocaust. It’s just the latest antisemitic step.”
ELi reached out to the Michigan Republican Party, leaving a message asking for comment on the tweet and the statement made by the interfaith clergy. As of publishing time, no one had returned the call.
Norm Shinkle, co-chair of the Ingham County Republican Party, was willing to speak with ELi via phone on Monday.
“That’s her own opinion,” he said, referring to the party chairperson’s refusal to apologize. “I don’t have an opinion on her opinions.”
He said he does find fault with the Democratic leaders pushing the gun control legislation.
“It’s a knee-jerk reaction instead of having thoughtful committee conversation,” he said. “We don’t have committee hearings anymore. They just take bills and ram them through the legislature. It’s unbelievable. Hopefully the people will remember this at the next election.” (Bridge Michigan recently reported Michigan Democrats are transforming state government “using GOP ploys they once condemned.”)
Bigman is more focused on the antisemitism that is ensconced in the culture and, she believes, strengthened by rhetoric such as that used by the Michigan Republican Party.
“It adds to the antisemitic rhetoric and actions,” she said. “It makes it seem OK to use antisemitism and Holocaust imagery and it’s inappropriate.”
Bigman noted a new initiative being used to combat antisemitism, the “blue square campaign” funded by New England Patriots team owner Robert Kraft.
“[The campaign] compares the small percentage of the overall population that is Jewish against the very large percentage of hate that is focused on Jews,” Bigman said, “and it’s been airing on national television. It’s good to see people standing up against this kind of hate and violence.”
Carey said she is also thankful for the group of interfaith clergy who have made a difference in the Greater Lansing area.
“[The area] is really blessed to have such a wonderful interfaith association of congregations and leaders that come together to do a lot of good,” she said. “We work on things across our faiths like helping settle refugees and immigrants.”
Carey also noted the time of year during which the interfaith community made their response to the GOP tweet.
“It’s no coincidence that it comes during [the Islamic month of fasting and prayer of] Ramadan, before [the Jewish celebration of] Passover, and during Holy Week [the days preceding the Christian holiday Easter],” she said. “All of these remind us to love and respect our neighbors.”