Anti-Islam, Pro-Gun Rally Fizzles

A small group of demonstrators turned out for an anti-Islam, pro-gun rally in Dearborn. (Photo via Global Rally for Humanity: Michigan Facebook page)

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Only a handful of people showed up at an anti-Islam and pro-gun rights rally in Dearborn Saturday, and most of them were counter-protesters.

The Global Rally for Humanity was peaceful and there were no arrests or violence, media organizations are reporting.

The demonstration was one of about 20 rallies across the United States Saturday.

In Dearborn, several protesters and counter-protesters carried AK47 or AR15 rifles.Others who support open-carry laws came out in support Muslims, who make up about 40 percent of Dearborn’s population.

Protesters waved flags that read “Stop the Islamization of America” and “ISIS is Evil.” A Mt. Clemens woman, Marcia Bodary, protested against immigration policies in the United States and Michigan, which is exploring options to welcome refugees from Syria and the Middle East as the crisis in that region of the world deepens.

But Bodary told the Detroit Free Press that’s a mistake.

“We’re taking in too many refugees,” she said. “We don’t know who they are. It’s impossible to vet them ... Don’t overwhelm us. We can’t afford it.”

Dearborn residents for the most part heeded a warning from Mayor John B. O’Reilly Jr., who implored citizens to ignore the protesters outside the Henry Ford Centennial Library and go about their business.

“The counter-protesters look to be about two-to-one,” Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad told The Detroit News. “None of these people live in Dearborn. I’m really proud of our community for staying away.”

O’Reilly told the Free Press the rally was an exercise in democracy in America he hopes demonstrated that Dearborn is not a radical place.

“They came here and saw: There’s no threat to them,” O’Reilly said. “There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

Local resident Ali Naji told The Arab American News that while he respects the protesters’ First Amendment rights to demonstrate, they are wrong in their perception of Islam.

“Islam and Muslims here in Dearborn, we work hard every day; we’re not radicalized at all,” Naji said. “So the way we look at it and the way they look at it is a little different, but they have their right to come and protest peacefully.”

The Arab American News also said local Muslims and the anti-Muslim protesters ended up having meaningful dialogue, with both sides shaking hands. One local resident edited a demonstrator’s sign reading “Stop Radical Islam” to include “Stop Radical Christianity,” the newspaper said.

In the end, the protester reportedly said that the protest was not based on hate for Islam, and that people of all faiths need to work together to end radicalism.