GARDEN CITY – Police arrested a 27-year-old White male resident of Garden City just hours after he posted an online threat urging violence against participants in Dearborn’s record-breaking “March for Justice” held last Saturday to mark the 40th day of mourning for Imam Hussein.

As soon as authorities received a report about the alleged threat and identified the suspect, police officers went to the home of Anthony James in Garden City around 7 p.m. He was arrested less than five hours after posting the alarming message on Facebook, which read, “Someone should show up and let a couple of clips out.”

At the time, tens of thousands of people were commemorating Imam Hussein in East Dearborn, only a few miles away. Organizers from the Islamic Center of Karbala, which has organized the annual procession for 22 consecutive years, said nearly 40,000 participants took part — the largest turnout in the event’s history.

Upon his arrest, James tried to justify his actions to officers, saying, “I got into an argument with some people on Facebook,” according to body camera footage later released by WXYZ, Channel 7.

On Monday, James appeared before Judge Mark Somers at the 19th District Court in Dearborn. He was charged with two misdemeanor counts of malicious use of telecommunications services. The judge set a $5,000 bond, ordered him to wear an electronic tether and barred him from Internet use until his next court appearance on September 17.

James told the judge he understood the seriousness of the charges and expressed deep regret for his actions. Police confirmed no weapons were found on him or in his home, but said he could face up to one year in jail if convicted.

Suspect Anthony James standing in the 19th District Court in Dearborn before Judge Mark Somers on Monday, August 18. – Videograb

City leaders respond

In a joint statement, Mayor Abdullah Hammoud and Police Chief Issa Shahin pledged to prioritize community safety. The statement stressed that Dearborn Police continuously monitor social media and other platforms for potential threats as part of a proactive strategy to detect and neutralize risks.

When anyone threatens violence against our community, we will act swiftly and decisively. We will never tolerate this kind of threat, and anyone who seeks to spread fear or division will be held fully accountable.  — Mayor Abdullah Hammoud & Police Chief Issa Shahin

Speaking to Channel 7, Shahin praised the quick response of officers and thanked an anonymous citizen who promptly reported the threat. “We waste no time when our community is at risk,” Shahin said, calling the behavior “completely unacceptable” and vowing to hold online threat-makers accountable.

Community leaders react

Rahat Husain, executive director of the Shi’a Muslim Foundation in Washington, D.C., praised Dearborn Police, saying the suspect’s actions were not a “theoretical threat”, but “a direct assault on religious freedom and an attempt to terrorize the community.” He emphasized that Arbaeen processions are “legal and sacred gatherings” and called for full transparency and prosecution to prevent future incidents.

This was not a theoretical threat — it was a direct assault on religious freedom and an attempt to terrorize the community. — Rahat Husain, Shi’a Muslim Foundation

Meanwhile, Dawud Walid, executive director of the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), noted that the Islamic Center of Karbala had previously faced threats and vandalism. He urged Wayne County prosecutors to file ethnic intimidation charges against James.

“We demand that the suspect be charged with ethnic intimidation,” he said. “We firmly reject any threat or intimidation based on religious beliefs.”