Michigan Democrats’ ‘Unity’ Dinner Criticized After Leaders Pose With ‘MAGA=NAZI’ And ‘86 47’ Threat Sign
Democrats have spent years preaching about healing division, bringing Americans together, and rejecting the politics of hate. Yet behind closed doors, when they think only friendly eyes are watching, a different picture emerges … one that should concern every American who values civil discourse and peaceful democracy.
Michigan Democrats recently held what they called the “John D. Dingell Unity Dinner,” headlined by gubernatorial front-runner Jocelyn Benson and Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow. These aren’t fringe activists or unknown local officials; they’re the rising stars of Michigan’s Democratic Party, the ones asking voters to trust them with power.
But unity, it seems, means something different in certain Democratic circles. When county Democratic officials arrived at this dinner, they posed proudly in front of a sign that would make most Americans recoil.
The display wasn’t subtle: “MAGA=NAZI” sprawled across the top, with “86 47” emblazoned below in bold letters that guests couldn’t miss.
For those unfamiliar with the coding, “86 47” isn’t random numbers on a protest sign. It’s a phrase dark enough that the Secret Service has investigated it before. The combination carries a sinister message that no political leader should tolerate, let alone celebrate at their fundraising dinner.
The number “86” originated in restaurants to mean “cancel” or “throw out,” but in underworld slang it is frequently used as a call sign for murdering someone. The number “47” is commonly interpreted as denoting the 47th president of the United States, Trump.
Recently, when Trump foe James Comey posted to social media a cryptic photo featuring “86 47,” it was taken seriously enough that Secret Service investigated the matter.
This wasn’t an isolated incident or a momentary lapse in judgment. Bill Swift, the Lenawee Democratic Chair who proudly posed with the sign, has a documented history of violent rhetoric. Just this January, he called into a radio show and explicitly stated that Trump supporters should be executed.
Around the same time, the Lenawee County Democrats’ social media account shared posts calling for the death penalty for Trump’s supporters, declaring “They should be hanged by the neck until dead.”
Yet Benson and McMorrow, who position themselves as responsible leaders ready to govern Michigan, headlined this event. When confronted about the signs and their implications, their responses were tellingly weak:
McMorrow’s spokesperson called the sign “wrong” but quickly pivoted to other topics. Benson’s team claimed she “condemns political violence” while simultaneously appearing at an event where calls for violence were literally the decorations.
Swift’s defense was even more revealing; he insisted they hadn’t advocated for political violence; while standing in front of a sign using mob terminology for murder. He claimed the dinner’s principle was “unity against fascists, not unity with fascists,” essentially admitting that anyone supporting Trump deserves whatever coded threats come their way.
Michigan Democrats recently held what they called the “John D. Dingell Unity Dinner,” headlined by gubernatorial front-runner Jocelyn Benson and Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow. These aren’t fringe activists or unknown local officials; they’re the rising stars of Michigan’s Democratic Party, the ones asking voters to trust them with power.
But unity, it seems, means something different in certain Democratic circles. When county Democratic officials arrived at this dinner, they posed proudly in front of a sign that would make most Americans recoil.
The display wasn’t subtle: “MAGA=NAZI” sprawled across the top, with “86 47” emblazoned below in bold letters that guests couldn’t miss.
For those unfamiliar with the coding, “86 47” isn’t random numbers on a protest sign. It’s a phrase dark enough that the Secret Service has investigated it before. The combination carries a sinister message that no political leader should tolerate, let alone celebrate at their fundraising dinner.
The number “86” originated in restaurants to mean “cancel” or “throw out,” but in underworld slang it is frequently used as a call sign for murdering someone. The number “47” is commonly interpreted as denoting the 47th president of the United States, Trump.
Recently, when Trump foe James Comey posted to social media a cryptic photo featuring “86 47,” it was taken seriously enough that Secret Service investigated the matter.
This wasn’t an isolated incident or a momentary lapse in judgment. Bill Swift, the Lenawee Democratic Chair who proudly posed with the sign, has a documented history of violent rhetoric. Just this January, he called into a radio show and explicitly stated that Trump supporters should be executed.
Around the same time, the Lenawee County Democrats’ social media account shared posts calling for the death penalty for Trump’s supporters, declaring “They should be hanged by the neck until dead.”
Yet Benson and McMorrow, who position themselves as responsible leaders ready to govern Michigan, headlined this event. When confronted about the signs and their implications, their responses were tellingly weak:
McMorrow’s spokesperson called the sign “wrong” but quickly pivoted to other topics. Benson’s team claimed she “condemns political violence” while simultaneously appearing at an event where calls for violence were literally the decorations.
Swift’s defense was even more revealing; he insisted they hadn’t advocated for political violence; while standing in front of a sign using mob terminology for murder. He claimed the dinner’s principle was “unity against fascists, not unity with fascists,” essentially admitting that anyone supporting Trump deserves whatever coded threats come their way.
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