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Community Urged to Ignore Jones' Upcoming Visit to Dearborn
Gainesville, Florida-based Pastor Terry Jones has announced his intention to return to Dearborn, Michigan this week on Friday, April 29, 2011 to demonstrate in front of Dearborn City Hall. The Congress of Arab American Organizations (CAAO), a coalition of more than 40 community groups and institutions, is asking the members of the Arab American and American Muslim communities in Metropolitan Detroit to ignore Jones’ visit and demonstration, in order to prevent him from receiving the publicity he is seeking and to prevent any possible conflict in the city.
Jones says he is demonstrating against “shari’a and jihad” in America and said he chose the City of Dearborn because it is the location of one of the largest mosques in the United States, the Islamic Center of America.
Jones’ visit to Dearborn last week for the same purpose was defused when Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy inititated charges, which were affirmed by a jury in Dearborn District Court, that the extremist pastor and his assistant had to post peace bonds to ensure that he and his assistant, Qur’an burner Wayne Sapp, will not cause a “breach of peace”. The two men refused to post the $1 bonds and spent an hour in jail before posting the bonds, thus agreeing not to go near the Islamic Center of America for three years. After flying back to Florida, the pastor announced plans to return and demonstrate at City Hall, where a permit is not required.
“Dearborn city officials, Wayne County officials, faith leaders and community members all worked together last week to clearly demonstrate the unity and respect among all the ethnic and religious communities in Metropolitan Detroit,” said CAAO spokesman Osama Siblani, also publisher of The Arab American News. “We extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all of these individuals and we call on community members to simply avoid Michigan Avenue this coming Friday afternoon and allow Mr. Jones to exercise his Constitutional right to free speech even though we believe that he is wrong and we vehemently disagree with his hateful message.”