San Francisco homeowner’s Nazi flag protest of Trump backfires

Flying a Nazi flag at his home in San Francisco’s Dolores Heights on Wednesday was Frederick Roeber’s attempt to make a social comment on President-elect Donald Trump.

But the 48-year-old quickly realized the display was misguided when neighbors spotted the ominous swastika and immediately confronted him in the street outside the house.

Roeber, who is retired and lives in the storybook-esque home on the corner of Sanchez and 21st streets, said he didn’t like Trump’s comments about Muslims and Mexican immigrants during the election.

Frederick Roeber, 48, briefly flew a Nazi flag above his San Francisco home in what he described as a protest against president-elect Donald Trump. But neighbors soon spotted the swastika and confronted him. Frederick Roeber, 48, briefly flew a Nazi flag above his San Francisco home in what he described as a protest against president-elect Donald Trump. But neighbors soon spotted the swastika and confronted him. Photo: Michael Bodley / The Chronicle / / Photo: Michael Bodley / The Chronicle / / Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close San Francisco homeowner’s Nazi flag protest of Trump backfires 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

“I am hoping people get that this is a political statement, and that I’m not a Nazi supporter,” Roeber said outside his home’s wrought iron gates and manicured garden. “I’m a little afraid that neighbors will get the wrong idea.”

But that’s exactly what happened.

Francine Miller, whose grandparents were Holocaust survivors, lives across the street from the home. When she spotted the flag, she headed straight over for a stern chat with her neighbor.

“It was a comment on our new president-elect,” Roeber attempted to explain to the woman.

“I can see where you are coming from, but that is really the wrong impression,” she shot back. “It makes it look like you are supportive of Nazis. As your neighbor, I don’t think it’s funny.”

Roeber, faced with the reality of his situation, responded, “OK, I’ll take it down.” He then went inside and pulled the flag down and replaced it with a California Pride flag.

Down the street, neighbor Linda Sonntag, who also said she comes from a family of Holocaust survivors, saw the flag earlier in the morning before Roeber got home.

“I’m in complete shock,” she said. “It’s making me literally sick to my stomach. I can’t know what their motives are but it’s disturbing no matter what. It’s very disturbing.”

Michael Bodley and Evan Sernoffsky are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: mbodley@sfchronicle.com esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @michael_bodley @EvanSernoffsky