Terry Jones, the Florida pastor known for burning Qurans, is planning a rally in Dearborn, Michigan, outside one of America's largest mosques. The event is schedule to take place on Flag Day, June 14, outside of the Islamic Center of America (ICA).
Jones, author of Islam Is of the Devil, explained on his website, Stand Up America Now, that "the purpose of the event is to rally against Islamic Sharia Law which threatens freedom of speech in the United States." It's being billed as the Dearborn Freedom Rally and it will be hosted by the American Patriotic Bikers.
Dearborn Mayor Jack O'Reilly Jr. called his cause "un-American," but noted that Jones has the right to free speech, according to the Detroit Free Press. Dearborn has a large Muslim population, and about 40% of the town is of Arab descent.
This isn't the first time that Jone has planned Islamophobic events in Dearborn. In 2012, the city asked Jones and his Stand Up America Now co-founder, Wayne Sapp, to sign an indemnity agreement before speaking. A federal court later ruled that Jones' freedom of speech had been violated, which led the city to change its special events ordinance.
Dawud Walid, executive leader of Michigan's branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, is advising Muslims to simply ignore Jones. “The last time he came here, there was no big to-do. Mr. Jones is just coming here to get his 15 minutes of fame renewed," he told Press and Guide.
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