Clashes in Dearborn as Far-Right Activist Attempts Qur’an Burning: Community Unites Against Anti-Islam Hate

The city of Dearborn, the first Arab-majority city in the United States, witnessed opposing protests on Tuesday along Schaefer Road and Michigan Avenue, as anti-Islam activists clashed with local residents and pro-Muslim demonstrators in a scene that reflected rising social and political tensions.

According to MLive, tensions began when far-right activist Jake Lang, known for his involvement in the January 6 Capitol attack, attempted to burn a copy of the Holy Qur’an in public. Despite repeated attempts using a lighter, Muslim protesters confronted him and knocked the book from his hands. In a charged moment, Lang tapped the Qur’an with a piece of bacon—a gesture intended to insult the holy book—before a protester managed to pull it away from him. Some demonstrators held signs reading “Americans Against Islamification.”

The protests coincided with the Dearborn City Council meeting that evening, prompting police to increase their presence in the area, with at least seven patrol cars stationed to maintain order. Eyewitnesses reported the arrest of one person inside City Hall, with no injuries recorded.

Dearborn Leaders and Residents Push Back Against Anti-Islam Hate

Curtis Hertel, the chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, condemned the attempted Qur’an burning, describing it as “an unacceptable act of hate,” and affirming that Dearborn is “a city defined by love and multiculturalism.”

At the same time, Republican candidate for governor Anthony Hudson organized a separate protest unrelated to Lang, but still faced verbal attacks from him, accusing Hudson of sympathizing with Muslims and using mosque visits as political leverage.

Across the street, Dearborn residents and supporters of the Palestinian cause gathered in a counter-demonstration, rejecting the anti-Islam messages. Mr. Haidar, a Dearborn resident, explained his participation, saying he came “to show the American people that ours is a religion of peace, and that we can coexist just as the Abrahamic faiths coexisted in past eras. We are here to show that we, too, have a voice, and this is our country as well.”

He added that “everyone comes from immigration, and we are all grateful to be here. We all pay taxes, go to work, and strive to support our families.”

Responding to recurring claims that Dearborn is governed by Islamic Sharia law, Haidar pointed to a public monument of Mary and Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) in the city, emphasizing that “the community here is diverse and united, and the mosque and church stand side by side.” He added that protesters coming from outside Dearborn misunderstand the community.

The protests, which resulted in no injuries, highlight the challenges facing Muslim communities in the United States, especially amid the rise of anti-Islam rhetoric from certain out-of-state activists. Despite these tensions, Dearborn remains a living example of cultural diversity and coexistence, resisting attempts at distortion and provocation.