Dearborn Moves Council Meeting Amid Planned 'Christian Crusader March'

DEARBORN, MI — Dearborn officials are moving the city's next council meeting to another location amid a planned pro-Christian protest.

Council President Mike Sareini said in a Facebook video that the meeting will happen Tuesday at the Henry Ford Centennial Library. The move comes as officials expect large crowds.

The meetings are typically held at the Council Chambers of the Dearborn Administrative Center.

"Of course, we want anyone that has business with the city of Dearborn to show up and voice your concerns regarding the business items that we have," Sareini said. "People are coming to create problems; we don't want to give them the opportunity nor the stage."

Standing beside Sareini was Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin, who warned people who are not participating in the council meeting to stay home.

"If you want to attend the meeting and exercise your First Amendment right, we encourage you to attend, and I can assure you you’ll be safe," Shahin said. "If your goal is to engage with demonstrators, I ask you to stay home."

Conservative activist Jake Lang and Detroit Pastor Lorenzo Sewell posted a flyer on their social media pages detailing a "Christian Crusader March on Dearborn City Council Meeting."

The flyer also said, "Stop the Islamification of America."

Dearborn is home to one of the largest Middle Eastern communities in the nation.

Tuesday will not be the first time Lang and other anti-Islam activists have organized protests in Dearborn.

A video posted to social media showed a man walk up to Lang and punch him from behind during a peace march along Greenfield Road earlier this month. A group of men then chased Lang through a lot, some pummeling him with stones, before police officers intervened.

Police confirmed at least one person was arrested in the incident. That man was charged with assault and battery and malicious destruction of personal property, according to the 19th District Court records.

Two other people, both 25 years old—one from Detroit and one from Dearborn—were also arrested in connection with the confrontation. Each was charged with one count of assault and battery, according to the Arab American News, citing police.