Dearborn Mayor blasts Quran-burning Pastor Terry Jones after his rally causes tensions

By Detroit Free Press April 29, 2011 Amid a heavy police presence, Pastor Terry Jones delivered a rambling speech Friday from the steps of Dearborn City Hall that lashed out at Islam and President Barack Obama, but much of his words were drowned out by the voices of a swarm of protesters across the street who called him a bigot. Jones repeatedly provoked the crowd and insultedthem. At one point, he ignored police requests by ambling down to the front of police barricades while taunting his opponents. Angered, some of those protesters stormed past their police barricades and marched across Michigan Avenue as they hurled bottles and shoes at Jones' supporters across from them. One woman spit in Jones' direction. The young crowd then pushed down a security fence that separated them from Jones' supporters and surged forward, their faces tight with anger. For a moment, it appeared a major clash was about to break out. But Arab-American leaders and police pushed back the angry group as dozens of police officers in full riot gear marched out in single file to separate the two sides. At least two were arrested. Dearborn Mayor John O'Reilly Jr. said afterward that Jones was responsible for creating the disturbance by ignoring city requests not to approach the barricade. "He refused to comply, " O'Reilly said. "He was asked, 'Please don't come to the barricade.' He just ignored us.... His goal was to start trouble.... That shows his character." O'Reilly said Jones is a troublemaker promoting fear among Americans during a time of economic anxiety. His goal, the mayor said, is to make money for his Florida church, which Jones has said has few members left since he threatened to burn a Quran. "He's got an online business of creating fear and hatred, " O'Reilly said. Jones started his rally by repeating his claim that parts of the U.S., such as Dearborn, are under Shari'a, or Islamic law. "We will not allow Shari'a to be instituted" in the U.S., he said. His assistant, Pastor Wayne Sapp - who burned a Quran last month in Florida on Jones' orders - said: "It's time for Christians to take to the streets." The crowd grew as they spoke, with more Muslims appearing as the rally took place. Some waved shoes, an Arab symbol of disrespect. Others held up Qurans. American, Palestinian and Lebanese flags also were waved. More than 600 counter-protesters appeared to assemble. At one point, Jones told the crowd: "I will be back, so please don't go away." Jones' rally at City Hall came a week after he failed to get permission to protest at the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, the largest mosque in metro Detroit. On April 22, a jury said Jones was likely to breach the peace if he carried out a rally there. Jones and Sapp were briefly jailed and then released after posting a $1 bond each. They were banned from the mosque and adjacent property for three years. That prompted Jones to say he would protest at City Hall. Attorneys with the Thomas More Law Center in Ann Arbor filed an appeal on behalf of Jones on Wednesday. "He's not welcome in Dearborn, " said protester Ray Berry, 45, of Dearborn. During Jones' talk, demonstrators opposing him repeatedly chanted, "Go home, Terry Jones" and "U-S-A! U-S-A!" In his talk, Jones repeated what he has been saying for weeks. But it was more insulting, protesters said. At one point, Jones said Islam promotes lying. As he spoke, Sapp held up a sign that read, "Ban Sharia Law in USA." About 50-100 supporters of Jones listened to his talk. Some said they were from New York City. Jones launched an attack on Obama, questioning the president's speech in Cairo, Egypt, in which he said Islam was part of the American story. "Islam has never been part of the American story, " Jones said. He later boasted in his address: "I'm an American with a stinkin' attitude." Arab-American leaders had urged the public to stay away from Friday's rally, but many showed up anyway. Tags: Arab Arab-American Terry Jones Quran burning Koran burning Terry Jones Dearborn Islam Muslim Muslim violence Arab violence Christian extremist Pastor Terry Jones Stand Up America Mohammed Muslim-American Arab American Dearborn Arab Dearborn City Hall religion faith Christian-Muslim relations muhammad michigan prophet