Rev. Terry Jones thwarted by protesters at Arab festival in Michigan

 

 

DEARBORN, Mich. — After railing at Dearborn City Hall against Muslims and African-Americans, Quran-burning Pastor Terry Jones and his supporters were thwarted Friday in their plans to speak out some more at a nearby Arab festival after a group of angry protesters confronted him.

"Dearborn has made it clear: racist bigots aren't welcomed here," shouted members of a small group of protesters who surrounded Jones as he tried to walk up Schaefer Avenue near City Hall. Earlier, Jones had led a rally against Islam, where pastors and a rabbi spoke about what they saw as the threat of Islam in the U.S.

Jones sported sunglasses, a bulletproof vest, and a T-shirt that read: "Everything I ever needed to know about Islam I learned on 9-11."

He tried to walk the two miles to the Arab festival, but had to keep changing directions as protesters — mostly with the group By Any Means Necessary — blocked his path.

After a few minutes of scuffling, Dearborn police swarmed in to whisk Jones and his assistant pastor, Wayne Sapp, into a police car. Jones did not speak at the Arab festival as planned.

Police arrested six counter-protesters, ages 18 to 22, Dearborn Police Chief Ron Haddad said. Five of the six arrested were not from Dearborn, he said, and city life proceeded as normal despite the rally.

"We kept Michigan Avenue open," Haddad said. "That's very important. ... No one knew he was here."

Compared to a similar rally Jones held in April at City Hall, this one attracted markedly fewer supporters and counter-demonstrators. There were about 15 Jones supporters, one of them holding up a U.S. flag as he sported a belt buckle in the shape of a human skull.

Matthew Keller, 78, a Dearborn resident who supports Jones, carried a U.S. flag and wore a T-shirt that said: "Islam is of the Devil."

Keller said he has Muslim neighbors, but is concerned about Islam.

"They got to be put under control," Keller said. "I'm a patriot. I'm a Christian. I believe in Jesus Christ above everything."

Jones announced a new plan to target Muslim-heavy communities across the U.S., including neighborhoods in Chicago where the Nation of Islam has a presence. He said he would be back in Dearborn.

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