A clash erupted on Tuesday between anti-Islam activists and pro-Islam counter-protesters in Dearborn, Michigan, as an anti-Islam activist attempted to burn the Quran in front of counter-protesters.
According to MLive, Jake Lang, one of the individuals pardoned for his involvement in the storming of Capitol Hill on January 6, 2021, and a candidate running for a U.S. Senate seat in Florida, attempted to burn the Quran multiple times as part of a demonstration in Dearborn on Tuesday. The outlet noted that Dearborn, which has one of the largest Muslim populations in the United States, has been accused of operating under Islam’s “Sharia law.”
A video shared on X, formerly Twitter, shows Lang holding up the Quran and a lighter to ignite the Islamic religious text. After shouting, “Mohammed was a pedophile and a rapist,” Lang stepped on the Quran; however, a counter-protester can be seen quickly grabbing the Quran and telling Lang, “You can’t burn it.” The video also shows a clash between anti-Islam activists and pro-Islam counter-protesters.
In another video, Lang can be seen slapping the Quran with a pack of bacon. The video shows a counter-protester engaging in an altercation with Lang and taking the Quran away from him. The activists and protesters can also be seen blocking traffic while moving through the streets of Dearborn.
MLive reported that Lang and his group of anti-Islam activists were observed marching toward Dearborn’s City Hall ahead of a city council meeting scheduled to take place at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
According to MLive, law enforcement officials maintained a perimeter on Michigan Avenue and the surrounding sidewalks during Tuesday’s dueling protests. The outlet noted that law enforcement officials briefly intervened as activists and counter-protesters clashed following Lang’s attempt to burn the Quran.
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An anonymous Dearborn police officer told MLive that roughly seven police cars were stationed in the area in an effort to prevent tensions from escalating on Tuesday. MLive reported that one individual was eventually arrested at City Hall.
Following Tuesday’s incident, Michigan Democrat Party Chairman Curtis Hertel issued a statement, saying, “Attempting to burn a religious document is an unacceptable act of hate. Dearborn is a beloved, multicultural city with tens of thousands of people who are cherished friends, family members, and neighbors.”
“Bringing hateful people to a great American city to incite violence is disgraceful,” Hertel added. “Republican leaders and candidates that instigated this should be ashamed.”
