DEARBORN, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Some Michiganders are responding negatively to an opinion piece published in the Wall Street Journal that appeared ahead of the weekend targeting Dearborn, MI for its pro-Palestine rallies. 

Steven Stalinsky, Executive Directive of the Middle East Media Research Institute, published an opinion piece titled “Welcome to Dearborn, America’s Jihad Capital” in which he discussed the Michigan city with the highest Middle Eastern population in the U.S.

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“Thousands march in support of Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran,” he said in the opinion piece. “Protesters, many with kaffiyehs covering their faces, shout “Intifada, intifada,” “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” and “America is a terrorist state.” Local imams give fiery antisemitic sermons. This isn’t the Middle East. It’s the Detroit suburb of Dearborn, Mich.” 

Stalinsky continued by sharing that the “open support for Hamas is spreading.” 

“Since Oct. 7, similar protests have occurred in major American cities featuring pro-jihadist imagery, chants and slogans,” he said in the piece. “Rallies are now also expressing support for the Iran-backed Houthis, who are lobbing missiles at Israel and trying to sink commercial vessels in the Red Sea.”

Stalinksy expressed that what is “happening in Dearborn isn’t simply a political problem for Democrats.”

“It’s potentially a national-security issue affecting all Americans,” he wrote. “Counterterrorism agencies at all levels should pay close attention.” 

Political leaders express strong feelings about piece. 

Yesterday, U.S. President Joe Biden weighed in on the piece via social media. 

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“Americans know that blaming a group of people based on the words of a small few is wrong,” he said on X (formerly Twitter). “That’s exactly what can lead to Islamophobia and anti-Arab hate, and it shouldn’t happen to the residents of Dearborn – or any American town.” 

“We must continue to condemn hate in all forms,” Biden added. 

Michigan lawmakers discuss WSJ piece.

Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party Lavora Barnes released the following statement: 

“The Murdoch Wall Street Journal should be ashamed of the disgusting and dangerous language it chose to spread over the weekend,” she said in a statement. “Dearborn is an incredible community that represents the strength of Michiganders everywhere. This type of bigoted rhetoric puts our Muslim and Arab Neighbors at risk, and we at the Michigan Democratic Party condemn it in the strongest possible terms. Hate and racism have no place in Michigan, and we stand firmly in solidarity with our Arab and Muslim communities.”

Michigan State Representative Matt Koleszar (D-Plymouth) expressed his opposition to the piece also on social media. 

“I’m not sharing the actual @WSJ article because it’s deplorable,” he said on X (formerly Twitter). “Islamophobia has no home here. Michigan is proud of not only Dearborn, but the vibrant Arab community that are our friends and neighbors.”

Dearborn lawmaker wins “Antisemite of the Year” award.

Michigan Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit), who was censured by the U.S. Congress for her remarks regarding the Israel-Hamas war, was recently awarded the 2023 Antisemite of the Year award from the watchdog organization called “StopAntisemitism.” 

For past winners and reasons for the award, see here. 

Antisemitic incidents on the rise.

According to a report released from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), antisemitic incidents have skyrocketed 361% after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, with more than 500 incidents that have occurred on college campuses and over 240 that were in K-12 schools. 

“The American Jewish community is facing a threat level that’s now unprecedented in modern history,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO. “It’s shocking that we’ve recorded more antisemitic acts in three months than we usually would in an entire year.”