Dearborn — Dozens of marchers and protesters gathered in Dearborn on Tuesday afternoon, one group as part of a “unity” march and a second rally that featured Qurans by supporters and provocative pronouncements by others.
One of the raillied was organized by a Republican candidate for governor who previously said Americans needed to be “protected from sharia law,” but later changed his tone.
Anthony Hudson, a truck driver by trade from Grand Blanc Township who’s seeking the Republican nomination for the 2026 gubernatorial election, originally planned Tuesday’s march to “expose Dearborn for what it is.”
But in a post on social media, Hudson later said he’d been welcomed by the community.
Starting from Michigan Avenue and Schaefer, some marchers held large wooden crosses Tuesday. Others carried a large banner reading “Americans Against Islamification.”
Hudson, however, said people should focus on loving and helping each other.
“We have to co-exist in this city and this state. It’s better if we do it in peace, rather than turmoil.”
His rally was one of two that groups held on either side of Michigan Avenue in the city on Tuesday. In one rally, some held up Qurans and some, including Jake Lang, sparred with them in lively discussions. Lang was among those pardoned by President Trump in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot.
Hudson and a few dozen supporters, some wearing hats bearing his slogan “Fix Michigan,” began walking along Michigan Avenue toward Dearborn’s City Hall shortly after 4 p.m, followed by some counter-demonstrators.
Hudson said he reached out to Mayor Abdullah Hammoud’s office in the last few days but did not hear back.
Hudson had already walked back earlier comments and apologized for mischaracterizing Dearborn. The apology came after meeting with some in the Dearborn community, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations-Michigan chapter.
“There is a lot of hospitality,” Hudson said in a video posted to social media.
Hudson’s message was echoed by Donaven Thorn of River Rouge, who said his Christian faith motivated him to march Tuesday. He said people have been exposed to too much propaganda online, a problem he said worsened during the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic.“I don’t care where you’ve come from or what you’ve done. It’s not my right to judge,” he said. “I would love to see everybody just cross the line out of love, no matter what religion, creed, sex, it doesn’t matter.”
Jackson Robak with the Freedom Road Socialist Organization who came with the group of counter-demonstrators said he didn’t believe Hudson’s message. Robak doesn’t think Hudson‘s views have changed, and he said he came to protest racist, anti-Islam rhetoric.During a gubernatorial debate in October, Hudson said he’d authorize the National Guard to go to Dearborn should he win the Governor’s Office to “protect Americans from Sharia law.” Sharia refers to Islamic law that guides the lives of Muslims.
Dearborn has a population of more than 100,000 people and has the highest concentration of Arabs in the U.S. Both major-party presidential candidates courted votes in Dearborn last year.
Hammoud, 35, is the city’s first Arab American and Muslim mayor, and won a second term on Nov. 4.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations-Michigan chapter welcomed Hudson’s apology in a news release. The statement said sharia as a concept has been misunderstood and used to ostracize Muslims in society.
“We welcome Mr. Hudson’s remorse for his admitted fearmongering against the Dearborn community and American Muslims in general,” said Executive Director Dawud Walid. “We invite him to further discussions to learn about the Islamic faith and what Muslims generally believe counter to false narratives and misinformation perpetuated by those with political agendas.”
jcardi@detroitnews.com
