Dearborn Protests Erupt, Quran-Burning Attempt Thwarted as Competing Rallies Clash Over Faith and Immigration
Three opposing protests gathered in Dearborn, Michigan, on November 18th, 2025, which led to intense clashes between anti-Islam activists and Muslim residents, while police set up barriers to stop the situation from getting out of control. The protests united right-wing activists with liberal demonstrators and a Republican gubernatorial candidate who changed his Muslim opposition stance after visiting Dearborn mosques.
A Dramatic Turn, From Anti-Sharia to Apology
Anthony Hudson, a Republican gubernatorial candidate who initially planned an “American Crusade” march against what he called “Muslim infiltration,” spent four days meeting with mosque leaders and community members in Dearborn before completely reversing his position. After visiting three mosques and touring local businesses, Hudson issued a public apology, acknowledging he had been “lied to with the propaganda” about the Detroit suburb.
“I can tell you with absolute faith that everything you’ve been told or taught about Dearborn is a complete fabrication of the truth,” Hudson stated from inside a Dearborn mosque on November 15. The Trump-supporting “America First” candidate went further, declaring that if anyone attempted to burn the Quran in front of him, “I’ll be the first to put out the fire”.
Hudson’s shift in tone transformed his rally into a call for unity. However, he still urged Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud to be more considerate of Christian residents’ concerns regarding the Islamic call to prayer broadcast outdoors since 2023.
Violence and Provocation on Michigan Avenue
The situation reached its peak when Jake Lang announced his intention to burn a Quran and cook bacon during his right-wing protest in Florida after President Donald Trump granted him a pardon for his January 6 Capitol protest involvement. Lang displayed a Quran and lighter fluid while insulting Mohammed at 6 p.m., but a Muslim protester stopped him by taking the book from his hands. Lang used bacon to slap the Quran while he walked along Michigan Avenue, which caused traffic obstruction until another protester took the book from him. The video recording by Brandon Gutenschwager showed Lang receiving a facial punch from a counter-protester while he walked with his group, the Dearborn police department, through Cpl. Dan Bartok advised residents to avoid demonstrators across the city for public safety reasons, according to the Detroit Free Press. The police established metal barriers to keep Lang and his supporters away from the growing, angry crowd, which occasionally chanted.
Competing Visions of America
The conflict between anti-Islam activists and Muslim residents in Hudson became more intense because both Hudson and Lang fought for control of the “America First” ideology. The supporters of Lang destroyed a bus displaying Hudson’s campaign logo because they viewed him as a traitor for building relationships with mosques.
The By Any Means Necessary liberal protesters approached the Dearborn Administrative Center while using a snare drum to create noise and repeating their message that Dearborn rejects all fascist elements. The protesters displayed Palestinian flags to show their support for Dearborn’s Muslim population.
Historical Context and Community Response
The current protests follow a disturbing trend of anti-Islam demonstrations that have taken place in Dearborn since 2007, when Pastor Terry Jones first visited the city with his Quran burning activities. The United States recognized Dearborn as its first Arab-majority city in 2023, when 55% of residents identified as Middle Eastern or North African. The Islamic Center of America, located in Dearborn, is the largest mosque in North America.
Hussein Dabajeh operated a truck with an electronic billboard that displayed messages of acceptance to all visitors to Dearborn. The car displayed two messages, “Welcome to Dearborn for all” and “Welcome to Dearborn, where all faiths coexist,” along with symbols representing Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
The protests ended with Hudson and Lang set to attend a city council meeting at 7 p.m. Hudson intended to ask the city to stop playing the Islamic call to prayer before 7 a.m. and to lower the volume during other times. The police have not verified any arrests, but Bartok stated that police handled several minor incidents without endangering public safety.