DEARBORN – About 400 people showed up to counter-protest against extremist Pastor Terry Jones of Gainesville, Florida, and the situation became tense near the end of his roughly two-hour demonstration as about a fourth of the counter-protesters came through barricades in an attempt to confront him on the other side of the street.

Jones had begun walking from Dearborn City Hall, where he had been speaking, toward the fenced-in area near Michigan Avenue along with some of his companions in what Dearborn Mayor Jack O’Reilly called an effort to antagonize those on the other side as supporters joined him.

“We made one request of him and he ignored it,” O’Reilly said.

“But he refused to comply because he’s an antagonist and his goal was to start trouble, it’s unfortunate but free speech has a funny line.

“I know what he wanted to do was cause trouble…he didn’t succeed so I’m glad about that.”

The protest had humble beginnings as a small group of mostly non-Arab American protesters began showing up prior to Jones’ 5 p.m. demonstration time, but through word of mouth, numerous others, mostly Arab American Muslims, came out to join them including numerous high school-aged youths.

The protest quickly became passionate but remained peaceful until Jones, who oversaw the burning of a copy of the Qur’an in March, came down toward the fence. Counter-protesters held signs in support of freedom of religion and some even held up shoes similar to pro-Democracy demonstrators in the Arab world. Cars driving by down Michigan Avenue also honked in support as they drowned out Jones’ speech.

Jones questioned whether or not the city was actually under “shari’a,” which city officials have repeatedly denied. He asked the crowd if there were any “tough guys” and said that they could face a “conflict they would not be able to handle” if they tried to institue shari’a.

Some of Jones’ supporters held a large Israeli flag as well that community leaders felt was designed to antagonize the crowd in a community that has numerous natives of and supporters of occupied Palestine.

Arab American community leaders were among those helped keep the peace when the barricades were broken through and counter-protesters attempted to get to Jones. O’Reilly lauded their leadership and actions in calming the crowd. Riot police were dispatched but ultimately were not needed as the crowd came back near Comerica Bank across the street.

A few people were arrested according to O’Reilly, however.  

Imad Hamad the regional director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee of Michigan, helped bring the crowd back to the north side of Michigan Avenue along with police.

He was glad to see safety for all involved.

“People may have had a debate about the court’s peace bond but we see now that it was in the right place and highly needed,” he said.

“Today’s show of hostility was unfortunate but it attested to his intention, that he is not about free speech and expression anymore but he’s only here with one mission and that’s to incite violence and drag people into a negative reaction that people should be serious about and take notice.

“This is an issue of public safety and and the city has every right to keep the residents safe, it’s not going to jeopardize the safety of the city because of someone with ill intentions and a message of hate.”

Jones says he will return to Dearborn, not sure when

Speaking to TV reporters after the demonstration, Jones said he would return to Dearborn but was not sure when before being led away by security.

O’Reilly said that the city has no choice but to keep paying the high security costs for Jones because safety is its number-one duty for all involved in the demonstrations.

He was also asked if he was disappointed about riot police having to be summoned as backup, even though they did not have to act.

“I’m asking everybody to think about the things they hold in their heart that are so important in their life, and imagine them being challenged by an ignorant person. Everybody gets upset when someone challenges the most deep-held feelings they have.”

He noted that Jones does not have a congregation anymore as he admitted in court last week and said he is protesting in an effort to raise money. He also noted that the group “Stand Up America” of which he is a member only consists of essentially “two people” and that Jones should be ignored if possible as community leaders have suggested.

“He’s got five different credit cards on his site you can make donations to, this man has a new online business creating fear and hatred and trying to benefit from that, he’s pandering for money because he lost his church and he needs that for himself.”