A tense confrontation erupted Tuesday in Dearborn, Michigan, after an anti-Islam activist attempted to burn a Quran, drawing swift backlash from counter-protesters and prompting a strong police presence along Michigan Avenue.
According to Fox News, Dearborn, home to one of the nation’s largest Muslim communities, has increasingly become a target for activists pushing false claims that the city operates under “Sharia law,” according to MLive.
The clash began when Jake Lang — a participant in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot — arrived on Michigan Avenue and tried to ignite a Quran. Witnesses told MLive that Lang held a lighter to the book before counter-protesters knocked it out of his hands.
The confrontation escalated as Lang slapped the Quran with a slab of bacon, spurring more anger from the crowd. A counter-protester eventually grabbed the book and ran off with it.
Police formed a perimeter along the sidewalks and the roadway, stepping in briefly when tensions spiked following the attempted burning. One person was arrested outside City Hall, according to the outlet. No injuries were reported.
Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel condemned the incident, calling it an attack on the community.
“Attempting to burn a religious document is an unacceptable act of hate,” Hertel said in a statement. “Dearborn is a beloved, multicultural city with tens of thousands of people who are cherished friends, family members, and neighbors.”
The event unfolded as Michigan Republican gubernatorial candidate Anthony Hudson held a separate demonstration nearby. MLive reported that Hudson’s march appeared unconnected to Lang’s actions.
Hudson had previously promoted what he called an “American Crusade” against “Muslim infiltration” and “Sharia Law.” But after visiting three Dearborn mosques, Hudson said many of the narratives fueling fear about the city were misleading. He added that his interactions with local Muslims were marked by hospitality and said he opposed outsiders traveling to Dearborn to burn the Quran.
“We welcome Mr. Hudson’s remorse for his admitted fearmongering against the Dearborn community and American Muslims in general,” CAIR-Michigan Executive Director Dawud Walid said in a statement. He invited Hudson to continue discussions “to learn about the Islamic faith and what Muslims generally believe.”
Lang, angered by Hudson’s shift in tone, responded by spray-painting the word “cuck” on Hudson’s campaign bus in Dearborn and accused him of “selling out,” according to MLive.
