In Michigan, Muslim and Arab American Voters Reconsider Support for Biden

There are about 200,000 registered Muslim American voters in Michigan, by some counts, a significant bloc in a battleground state of 8.2 million registered voters. | Valaurian Waller for The New York Times
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Many in the swing state say they feel betrayed by the president’s support for Israel.

Sam Baydoun, a Wayne County commissioner in Dearborn, Mich., has been glued to Al Jazeera for weeks to absorb news from the war in Israel and Gaza.

Mr. Baydoun, a Democrat who is Lebanese American, has watched with fury as Israeli airstrikes have caused the deaths of many civilians, including children, following the deadly attack by Hamas on Israel on Oct. 7 that killed many. He saw President Biden visit Israel and pledge full-throated American support.

And he is thinking ahead to the presidential election of 2024, a contest that could hinge on a handful of states including Michigan, whose Muslim and Arab American voters turned out decisively for Mr. Biden three years ago.

“How can I tell somebody who’s watching these atrocities on live TV, today, to vote for President Biden?” he said. “The pulse of the community is overwhelmingly not supportive of Biden now. They feel betrayed.” » | Julie Bosman and Ernesto Londoño | Julie Bosman reported from Dearborn, Mich, and Ernesto Londoño from St. Paul, Minn. | Saturday, October 28, 2023

Donald Trump Rails against 'Greatest Hoax' at First Rally Since Mueller Report

THE GUARDIAN: President wrongly claims special counsel’s report fully exonerated him as he woos voters in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Donald Trump continued his assault on the media and Democrats on Thursday night, wrongly claiming “total exoneration, complete vindication” at his first rally since Robert Mueller submitted his report.

Trump dedicated about half of his approximately 90-minute speech in front of a raucous audience at Grand Rapids to the topic, labeling the accusations and investigation “ridiculous bullshit”. The president bounced between theories about why the special counsel’s investigation happened and attacks on his opponents.

“All of the Democrats, politicians, the media also – bad people,” Trump told the crowd at Michigan’s Van Andel Arena. “The crooked journalists, the totally dishonest TV pundits” helped perpetuate “the single greatest hoax in the history of politics”.

He later claimed that the investigation was really an effort “to overturn the results of the 2016 election”. » | Tom Perkins in Grand Rapids, Michigan | Friday, March 29, 2019

David Wood: Story of Sharia Law in America!

David wood tells of his personal experience in islamerica (Dearborn, Michigan)

Should Muslims Be Allowed to Pray in Public Schools? Michigan Says 'Yes'
THE CHRISTIAN POST: It's illegal for Christians to pray in public school, according to the U.S. Supreme Court. But in Michigan, Muslims are being given special prayer privileges by school administrators, raising questions as about due process, equal protection, and freedom of speech for followers of the faith of America's Founding Fathers.

Stirring up the Constitutional storm, once again, is the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Michigan chapter, which has reached a "negotiated" settlement with the school board in Dearborn, a suburb of Detroit, which will give Muslim kids so-called "prayer accommodations" in Dearborn Public Schools. » | Gene J. Koprowski | Christian Post Contributor | Monday, June 24, 2013

Suhaib Webb Keynote Speech - 13th Annual CAIR Banquet
Imam Suhaib Webb of the Islamic Society of Boston's Cultural Center speaks at the 13th Annual CAIR Banquet at Dearborn, Michigan's Islamic Center of North America.

Sixth Circuit: Michigan Can Ban Anti-Islam Ads from Buses

WSJ BLOG: Does First Amendment protect our right to say what we want in advertisements on the side of a city bus?

Yes and no.

A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that a Michigan transit authority could bar from the side of its buses an advertisement that read: “Fatwa on your head? Is your family or community threatening you? Leaving Islam? Got Questions? Get Answers! RefugefromIslam.com”[.]

The group behind the ads is the [the] American Freedom Defense Initiative, which describes its mission as acting “against the treason being committed by national, state, and local government officials, the mainstream media, and others in their capitulation to the global jihad and Islamic supremacism.”

The group had sought in 2010 to place the ads on the buses in Michigan’s four southeastern-most counties, but the authority refused, on the grounds that the ads violated a policy against political advertisements and offensive speech. Read on and comment » | Joe Palazzolo | Thursday, October 25, 2012

Over 1,000 Rally Against Anti-Islam Film in Dearborn; Another Protest Planned Today
DETROIT FREE PRESS: More than 1,000 rallied Friday night in Dearborn against the anti-Islam movie that has sparked protests around the world.

Organized by Arab-American leaders, the rally was the third protest in metro Detroit over the movie, the biggest one yet. Another protest against "Innocence of Muslims," the anti-Islam movie made in California that denigrates Islam's prophet, is set for today in Canton.

"Say No to Hate-Mongering, Say No to Islamophobia,'' read a large banner at the rally in Dearborn's civic center, the Ford Performing Arts & Community Center. On the podium was a sign that read: "We (heart symbol) Prophet Muhammad." » | Saturday, September 29, 2012

Dearborn Arab International Festival Violence

Related »

Screaming Anti-Islam Protesters Taunt Muslims with Pig’s Head: ‘You’re Going to Melt in the Fires of Hell!’
THE BLAZE: If you‘re looking to spread God’s love, it’s probably not a good idea to show up to the Arab International Festival in Dearborn, Michigan, with a pig‘s head on a stick and signs telling Muslims that they’re poised to burn in hell. Yet this is exactly what happened over the weekend when some Christians from an anti-Islam group showed up at the event and confronted Muslim adherents with some unwelcome messages.

One of the protesters yelled, “You’re going to burn in hell,” among other sentiments. The signs the individuals held were less-than-covert in their messaging as well. One read, “Islam is a religion of blood and murder” and another said “Muhammad is a…liar, false prophet, murder, child molesting pervert.” Clearly, those in attendance weren’t there to play nice (caution: language). » | Posted by Billy Hallowell | Monday, June 18, 2012

More Than 100 Homes Damaged by Mich. Tornado

USA TODAY: DEXTER, Mich. – A solitary hand stuck out of the rubble of a home destroyed when a tornado ripped through a Michigan village leaving more than 100 homes in splinters.

The first officer on the scene, Washtenaw CountySheriff's Deputy Ray Yee, reached for the hand and pulled out an elderly man who was shaken but able to walk.

"That's the best part," Yee said. "Every place I went to, I would have thought I would have found somebody laying there — deceased or whatever. But, knock on wood, everybody was OK."

Initial estimates indicate the tornado that hit Dexter, northwest of Ann Arbor, Thursday evening was packing winds of around 135 mph, National Weather Servicemeteorologist Steven Freitag said Friday. He said it was on the ground for about a half hour and plowed a path about 10 miles long.

There were no reports of serious injuries or fatalities, authorities said. » | From staff and wires | Friday, March 16, 2012

Rick Santorum's Michigan Primary Speech
Rick Santorum's Michigan primary speech (full text and video)

Rick Santorum looked ahead to Super Tuesday after losing primaries in Michigan and Arizona to rival Mitt Romney Tuesday night, focusing on energy and the economy and again pitching himself as the candidate to take on Barack Obama in November. Full text and video of Santorum's speech follow (text courtesy of FDCH Transcripts).

THE WASHINGTON POST: Rick Santorum’s Michigan primary speech » | Amanda Zamora | Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Romney Survives Michigan as All Eyes Turn to Super Tuesday

CNN: A relieved Mitt Romney headed back to the campaign trail Wednesday after sweeping crucial primaries in Arizona and his childhood home of Michigan to revitalize his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.

Romney needed to win both states, but especially Michigan -- where he grew up when his father was governor -- to assert his ability to overcome the conservative challenge from former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum.

A Santorum victory in Michigan would have raised questions about how strong a candidate Romney is within his own party. » | Tom Cohen, CNN | Wednesday, February 29, 2012

US Election 2012: Democrats Launch Pro-Santorum Campaign for Michigan Primary
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Republican social conservative Rick Santorum could see an uptick in support during Tuesday's presidential primary in Michigan from an unlikely voting bloc: hardcore Democrats.

Democratic activists and strategists have launched a campaign to push fellow Democrats and independents to vote for Santorum to try to derail the more moderate front-runner Mitt Romney, a Michigan native and the candidate President Barack Obama's campaign least wants to face in the Nov 6 election.

"I think Santorum is completely radioactive and will bring an electoral disaster to the Republicans – he could deliver Obama a landslide," said Michigan Democratic strategist Joe DiSano, who has launched one of the efforts to help Santorum. "We need to focus on the one real challenger to Romney." » | Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Evangelicals Spread the Gospel of Rick Santorum in Blue-collar Michigan

THE GUARDIAN: Santorum has a working-class appeal to go with his faith – and that has made him the favourite in Mitt Romney's home state

Outside a Christian store in the middle of a maze of suburban strip malls, Grace Rozelle has no doubt about what matters to her in the Republican primary battle for Michigan.

"Abortion is the really big thing for me. It has always been extremely important because of my faith," explained the 69-year-old retired schoolteacher. "I love Jesus and he created all of us."

Rozelle was standing on the outskirts of Grand Rapids, just a few streets away from the Mars Hill Bible Church, an evangelical mega-church built out of a converted shopping mall. Such displays of religious conviction are usually not seen as vital to Michigan's political landscape, which is more typically dominated by heavy industry and struggling city economies like Detroit and Flint.

But Rick Santorum is changing all that.

The former Pennsylvania senator has surged into contention in the 2012 race on the back of a stunning hat-trick of victories in Missouri, Minnesota and Colorado. He has banded together religious social conservatives and Tea Party supporters, creating a powerful challenge to frontrunner Mitt Romney in national polls. It has also seen him catapult into the lead in Michigan, a state that only weeks ago Detroit-born Romney assumed was virtually guaranteed. One Michigan poll had Santorum ahead by 15 points, and the last four surveys all show him maintaining a lead.

Now if Santorum can beat Romney in Michigan on February 28, he would deal a hugely damaging blow to the former Massachusetts governor's campaign, and achieve something few experts ever believed possible: become a real contender for the Republican nomination. "It is absolutely going to be a competitive race in Michigan now," said Stu Sandler, a top Republican strategist in the state. » | Paul Harris in Grand Rapids, Michigan | Thursday, February 16, 2012

State Bill Introduced to Ban Shari’a-Islamic, Other Forms of Foreign Law
CENTRAL MICHIGAN LIFE: A state lawmaker’s proposed bill that would ban the use of foreign laws in the Michigan court system is an example of Islamophobia, said one Central Michigan University professor.

Shari’a, a set of religious guidelines for Muslims that include aspects of their personal life, family relationships and religious practices, would be prohibited from being recognized in courts according to a bill proposed by State Rep. Dave Agema, R-Grandville.

Courts consult Shari’a law just as they have often consulted Jewish law, called Halakha, said Hugh Talat Halman, assistant professor of philosophy and religion.

The bill does not say anything specifically about Shari’a-Islamic law, but it would be prohibited in Michigan courts if the law were passed, along with Jewish law and any other form foreign law.

“The bill is against foreign law that goes against constitutional, federal and state laws,” Agema said. “It’s very simple and it does not go against one particular group or another.” » | Jordan Spence | Friday, September 16, 2011

Pastor Terry Jones to Appeal Ruling in Dearborn
DETROIT FREE PRESS: The Rev. Terry Jones is to file an appeal today in Wayne County Circuit Court over a Dearborn court's decision against him last week that thwarted his plans to protest outside the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, an attorney said Monday.

"It was a clear violation of the First Amendment's right to free speech," said Richard Thompson, president and chief counsel for the Ann Arbor-based Thomas More Law Center, which is representing Jones.

Jones, the Florida pastor who ordered the burning of a Quran last month, was to protest Friday outside the mosque in Dearborn, but Wayne County prosecutors filed an unusual complaint against him, saying he would breach the peace if he rallied. » | Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press Staff Writer | Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Pastor Terry Jones Imprisoned to Prevent Detroit Koran Burning
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The US pastor whose burning of a Koran sparked deadly violence in Afghanistan was briefly jailed in a heavily Islamic suburb on Friday after a court banned his protest outside a mosque.

A local judge jailed Pastor Terry Jones of Gainesville, Florida and his associate Wayne Sapp after a court found their planned protest outside the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, Michigan, could lead to violence.

During his court appearance, Pastor Jones argued that the Koran "promotes terrorist activities around the world."

He also insisted that his right to protest against Islam was protected by the First Amendment to the US Constitution.

"The First Amendment does us no good if it confines us to saying what is popular," he pointed out.

But Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad testified that his department had received information about serious threats made against Pastor Jones from local residents, and argued that his protest could lead to violence if allowed.

Prosecutor Robert Moran argued that the protest had nothing to do with the First Amendment and at stake were security and peace in the community. » | Saturday, April 23, 2011

Burn-a-Koran Pastor to Visit Dearborn!
Terry Jones, the Koran-burning pastor from Gainesville, Fl, is to visit Dearborn, Michigan, in order to protest Islamic law (shari’ah) and radical Islam. The protest is planned for Friday, April 22, and will take place outside the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn.

Dearborn has the highest concentration of Muslims and Arabs in north America. Check it out here.

The Great Canada-Michigan-New York City Earthquake
TIME NEWS FEED: A 5.0-magnitude earthquake in central Canada has left several cities shaken up, as the area rarely deals with tremors.

Although original reports measured the quake at 5.5 on the Richter Scale, an updated assessment by the U.S. Geological Survey knocked it down to 5.0. While a 5.0-quake isn’t usually considered particularly powerful—as far as earthquakes go—the quake’s origin was thought to be quite deep, which impacts how far the effects are felt. The epicenter was in the Ontario-Quebec border region, north of Ottawa, approximately 11 miles below ground. >>> Megan Gibson | Wednesday, June 23, 2010

THE GLOBE AND MAIL: Earthquake shakes central Canada: Magnitude 5.0 quake moved the ground in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and several U.S. states >>> | Wednesday, June 23, 2010

CYBERPRESSE: Ottawa: la terre a tremblé – Un tremblement de terre d'une magnitude de 5 a secoué tout l'ouest du Québec et l'est ontarien, mercredi après-midi à 13h42. >>> Louis-Denis Ébacher et Philippe Orfali | Mercredi 23 Juin 2010

Michigan: FBI Raids Homes for Suspected 'Militia Associated' Behavior

Related:

THE TELEGRAPH: Christian Militia Group Members Arrested by FBI >>> | Monday, March 29, 2010

FBI Make Christian Militia Arrests
THE TELEGRAPH: The FBI has carried out a series of raids on Christian militia across America after they feared the groups were about to launch a bombing campaign in anticipation of Armageddon.

Nine members of a Christian militia group in the American Midwest were charged on Monday with plotting to kill a police officer and then blow up mourners at his funeral.

Members of the Hutaree, self-proclaimed "Christian warriors" who conduct paramilitary training in readiness for the arrival of the anti-Christ, were seized after a series of FBI raids in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana.

The nine – including a couple and their two sons – face charges that include attempted use of weapons of mass destruction, seditious conspiracy and teaching the use of explosives.

Prosecutors said the FBI moved in after learning that the group planned a violent reconnaissance mission some time in April.

Monitoring groups say that right-wing militia groups have enjoyed a dramatic resurgence amid growing anger at what they see as an oppressive federal government and fears of gun control.

The Michigan-based Hutaree view law enforcement agencies, including local police, as a "brotherhood" and an enemy, said prosecutors. >>> Tom Leonard in New York | Monday, March 29, 2010