Dearborn police said they made 22 arrests during the tumultuous protests in the city on Tuesday, Aug. 18, that sparked religious tensions and fear among residents. Police added there were no injuries among protesters, police or the general public.
In a statement Wednesday, police said that "several hundred" attended the protests and counterprotests, but they did not disrupt a city council meeting that "concluded without incident." There was a significant presence of Dearborn officers, many in full body armor, others on horseback, who helped keep the peace and control crowds.
Jake Lang, a right-wing agitator who was charged in the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill attacks for attacking police and later pardoned by President Donald Trump, was the lead organizer
for what he called a "Christian Crusader March" on Dearborn, where about half the city's residents are Muslim. Escorted by police, Lang strode toward Henry Ford Centennial Library at about 6 p.m. to attend a council meeting, during which he spoke, railing against Muslims with derogatory words.
Police did not release the names of suspects arrested, any charges they may face, or the reason for their arrests. It's unclear whether those arrested were mostly Jake Lang supporters or counterprotesters. Many who attended Tuesday were Arab American residents concerned about the anti-Islam hate expressed by Lang. Detroit Free Press reporters and photographers observed seven arrests on Tuesday, both inside the library and outside where protests were being held. At about 6:30 pm, police walked a handcuffed suspect draped in a Lebanese flag outside the library. Another arrest was seen inside the library.
Hassan Aoun, 45, of Dearborn, said he was arrested and charged with two misdemeanors: assault and/or battery and imitating the carrying or brandishing of a gun. Aoun denies both charges, saying he never assaulted anyone or threatened anyone with a gun.
"I did not assault anybody," Aoun told the Detroit Free Press. "I did not put my hands on anybody."
Aoun said that he attended the protests to show support for the First Amendment and was arguing with someone whom he said became increasingly aggressive toward him. Aoun said he then told the man to move away from him or else he would pepper spray him. Aoun said he did not use the pepper spray.
"I didn't even point the pepper spray," Aoun said. "I did not pepper spray anybody. ... I just told him, 'Move away from me, ' or I'll use pepper spray."
Aoun, an outspoken activist who often criticizes Dearborn officials, said that video footage proves that he was not assaulting anyone.
Dearborn police spokesman Cpl. Dan Bartok did not return a message seeking comment on Aoun's arrest. Bartok and a city spokesman declined comment Tuesday on Aoun's arrest.
Aoun, who is of Arab descent and Muslim, said he supports the rights of Christians and other protesters to express their views, even if he may disagree with them. He was arrested previously at a Dearborn city council meeting and outside a Dearborn school board meeting. He filed a federal lawsuit over the school board arrest against the school district and Dearborn police, and he said it is currently in the appeals process.
"This country was built on the First Amendment," Aoun said.
Staff Writers Darcie Moran and Natalie Davies and Detroit Free Press photographers contributed to this report.
Contact Niraj Warikoo: nwarikoo@freepress.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Dearborn police arrest 22 at anti-Muslim protest and counterprotests
