DEARBORN, Mich. – Dearborn is moving its upcoming city council meeting to another location as the city is preparing for a heightened police presence after a planned pro-Christian protest began circulating online.
Council President Mike Sareini posted on Facebook on Thursday that the Aug. 18 city council meeting is moving to Henry Ford Centennial Library on Michigan Avenue because they’re expecting larger crowds. Meetings are typically held at the Council Chambers of the Dearborn Administrative Center.
Previous coverage --> Dearborn police chief urges residents to stay home as ‘Christian Crusader March’ looms
“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 in a video posted to his social media page. He then passed the message on to Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin.
“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 are listed as organizers behind what is being called a “Christian Crusader March on Dearborn.”
Lang posted a flyer to social media stating, “We will not surrender to Islam.”
The posts say organizers want to “stop Islamification of America.”
Dearborn is home to one of the largest Middle Eastern communities in the United States, making the announcement a source of concern for many residents.
Chief urges residents to stay home
Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin is urging residents to avoid the area unless they have specific business before the council.
“If your goal is to come here and confront anybody that wants to come to our town and portray us in a negative light, just don’t do it because you’re going to play into that narrative,” Shahin said on Thursday.
In a video posted to the Dearborn Police Department’s Facebook page on Thursday, Shahin made his message clear — he does not want residents provoking or engaging with expected protesters.
Background on the march
Sewell says the march was prompted after Lang was assaulted in Dearborn earlier this month while protesting.
Video of the incident was posted to Instagram.
Sewell claims police failed to respond.
“The police can enact justice when they want to, but when Jake Lang is running for his life, the police do absolutely nothing,” Sewell said.
Chief Shahin pushed back on that claim, saying officers were on scene within seconds and made arrests.
“Within 30 seconds of his arrival, police officers were there making sure everybody was safe,” Shahin said.
City, police coordinate for safety
Sewell claims as many as 50,000 people could show up to the protest. In response, the Dearborn Police Department says it is working with local, state, and federal partners.
“We have an operations plan in place to be able to deal with demonstrators and counter-demonstrators that plan to show up, so that everyone can exercise their First Amendment and do it freely, but also do it safely,” Shahin said.
City Council President Pro Tem Kamal Alsawafy echoed that sentiment, calling on residents to remain calm.
“Everyone has their First Amendment rights, and I respect that, but my message to our residents is simple — don’t take the bait, stay peaceful, go about your lives, and let law enforcement do its job,” Alsawafy said.
Chief Shahin stressed that the increased security presence should not deter residents who need to address the council. Local 4 reached out to Jake Lang via social media and has not received a response.
Previous coverage