Anti-Houthi protest in front of Dearborn’s Centennial Library, April 25.

DEARBORN — A group of Yemeni Americans gathered in front of Dearborn’s Henry Ford Centennial Library on Saturday, April 25, to condemn the Houthi militias and the forces of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who have taken over most of Yemen. 

Houthi militants captured the capital Sanaa last September and kept advancing in different provinces until they launched an offensive against the southern city of Aden, where President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi had relocated. Saudi Arabia started a bombing campaign dubbed “Operation Decisive Storm” to quell their advance, on March 26. 

The organizers of Saturday’s protests said in a statement that the demonstration was in support of the legitimate Yemeni government, not the Saudi intervention. 

“[We] would like to highly note that this demonstration does not imply endorsement of the so-called Decisive Storm and calls for coalition forces to assume responsibility for the death of civilians,” the statement read. “Meanwhile, the bigger responsibility lays on the Houthi militia and forces loyal to Saleh for this ongoing bloodshed.”

However, demonstrators chanted, “Thank you Salman” in gratitude to the Saudi king and at least two Saudi flags were held up at the protest. But in the post-protest statement, the organizers also distanced themselves from the protesters who carried Saudi flags. 

“Anyone who raised flags other than the Yemeni and American flag represents only his/her opinion,” the statement explained. It also called for increased humanitarian aid to Yemen, voicing “full support for the popular resistance that is fighting Saleh’s gangs and the Houthi militia.”

Anti-Houthi demonstrations by Yemeni expatriates have been accused of being organized and funded by Saudi embassies. But the organizers of Dearborn’s demonstration said the protest has nothing to do with either the Saudi or Yemeni embassy.

Adam Alharbi said the protest was organized by a group of non-partisan young activists. “Our message to the Yemeni people is that we stand with you against the Houthi coup,” he said.

Two weeks ago, a group of Yemenis also gathered in front of the library, but to denounce the Saudi intervention. 

Alharbi said the anti-Houthi protest is not per se in opposition to the previous demonstration.

“That protest was against the Saudi intervention,” he said. “We are not with or against the intervention.”

The demonstrators held up signs condemning Saleh, referring to him as Afash, one of his surnames. One sign read, “Houthis = Terrorism” and displayed graphic photos of alleged victims of the militants. “Yemen is Arab not Persian”, another poster read, referring to the Iranian support of the Houthi forces. 

During the protest, activist Ahmad Hussein Banma slammed the Houthis, who are also known as Ansarullah (the followers of God). He said they have become the followers of the devil.

“We support all the international resolutions to strike the hubs of terrorism, especially the founder of terrorism in the Arabian Peninsula, Ali Abdullah Saleh,” he said. 

Banma added that Saleh was able to infiltrate the Houthis’ leadership to turn them against the people. “He is riding all of them to suck the blood of the Yemeni people.”

Latifa Ali delivered a speech urging Houthis to stop their “crimes” against Yemenis and expressing pain over the crisis in her homeland.

Ibrahim, a demonstrator who chose to only be identified by his first name, said he favors the intervention as a necessary evil to save the country from the claws of the “power-hungry” Houthis and Saleh.

“Most Yemenis on the ground support Saudi Arabia against the former regime,” he said. “It is the only solution to save the country from civil war. We don’t want to become another Syria or Iraq.”

Protester Said Ahmed said the solution to the crisis would be dialogue after the Houthis withdraw from the areas they seized.

“Our hearts are torn in pain when we see our country falling apart like that,” he said. “We hope that the people of Yemen emerge victorious.”