Clash of Views: Dearborn's Day of Debate

Dearborn became a stage for heated debates on November 18, with three separate rallies drawing crowds to discuss religion and immigration. The day saw some pushing and shoving, a punch thrown, and claims of pepper spray use, but no serious injuries were reported. Police urged residents to steer clear of the protesters, some of whom hurled insults at Dearborn residents, targeting Islam, immigrants, and minorities. By 6 p. m. , a crowd had gathered around Jake Lang, a Florida-based activist who organized one of the rallies. Police set up metal barriers to keep Lang and his supporters separate from the crowd, who occasionally shouted back at him. Cpl. Dan Bartok of Dearborn police advised residents to avoid engaging with the demonstrators for their own safety. He mentioned minor incidents earlier in the day but assured that there were no immediate threats to the public. Three rallies took place that day. On one side, liberal groups supportive of Dearborn and Muslims waved Palestinian flags near Schaefer Road. On the opposite side, anti-Islam protesters, led by Lang, gathered near the old City Hall building. Lang, who was charged in the January 6 protests in Washington, D. C. , and later pardoned by President Donald Trump, had planned to burn a Quran and fry bacon, but he did not follow through with his plans by 6 p. m. Another rally was led by Anthony Hudson, a Republican candidate for governor. Initially planning an anti-sharia rally, Hudson changed his mind after spending four days in Dearborn and Dearborn Heights, visiting mosques and Muslim leaders. Hudson's rally aimed to promote unity and encourage Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud to be more respectful of Christians and their concerns. Hammoud had faced criticism earlier in the year for berating a Christian minister but later stated that the city welcomes all. Hudson admitted that he previously believed there was a "Muslim takeover" in Dearborn with sharia law being enforced, but after visiting four mosques and several businesses, he realized that was not the case. He described his interactions with the community as positive, receiving hugs and handshakes. Lang, on the other hand, expressed his opposition to Islam and the growing number of non-whites in America. He read passages from the Bible and told the crowd, "You don't have anything to do with America, " to a group of Arab Americans. Tensions arose between Lang and Hudson, with Lang's supporters claiming Hudson had betrayed their cause by visiting mosques and speaking positively about Muslims. Hudson denied ownership of the bus with his name on it that Lang had vandalized. Later, both Lang and Hudson marched toward the new City Hall building for the 7 p. m. council meeting. Lang's group marched behind a banner that read "Americans Against Islamification, " while the pro-Muslim liberal protesters chanted, "Dearborn has made it clear: fascists are not welcome here. " At the council meeting, Hudson requested a promise from the city to avoid playing the Islamic call to prayer before 7 a. m. and to lower the volume during other times. Some residents had complained about the volume from the Islamic Institute of Knowledge, which started broadcasting the call to prayer outdoors in 2023. Lang was seen sitting in the audience at the council meeting. This was not the first time anti-Islam protesters had targeted Dearborn. Over the past 16 years, there have been several controversial incidents, including visits by Pastor Terry Jones, known for burning Qurans. During the protests, a truck driven by Hussein Dabajeh displayed positive messages about Dearborn on an electronic billboard, emphasizing the city's diversity and coexistence.